CHARLOTTE, N.C -- Scammers will impersonate anyone to try and get money. Now, they are posing as church leaders to try to con people into giving them money.
- Leaders at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church say members have received e-mails from people claiming to be priests
- The e-mails are asking people to donate gift cards or money to help a family in need
- In reality, the money is going straight to the scammers
Church leaders at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Waxhaw say church members have received e-mails from people claiming to be priests at the church.
The e-mails are asking people to donate gift cards or money to help a family in need. In reality, the money is going straight to the scammers.
Fr. Todd Dill, one of the priests at St. Margaret's, says the scammers are using churches as covers because people tend to be more giving to those in need, and will listen to their church leaders when it comes to giving back.
"It's not just scary, it's sort of heartbreaking. They're taking advantage of folks that, by nature, are more generous or at least they have a generous nature about them. They're reaching out and going to churches where I think they know people have a heart to do this," Fr. Dill says.
Fr. Dill says people need to double-check the e-mail address before responding or opening the e-mail. Most churches won't ask for donations via e-mail, and if they do, it will come from the official church account.
If you think you have received a scam e-mail, contact the church and local police.
