Priest impostor using email scam to steal parishioner's cash

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Someone is posing as a Charlotte priest and is using an email scam to steal parishioners' money, telling them it would go to charity, officials said.

The scammer, posing as Father Frank O’Rourke, gained the trust of priests at St. Gabriel’s Church on Providence Road in south Charlotte.

O’Rourke has been with the church for many years.

“They thought I was asking them to help me help somebody,” the real O’Rourke said. “They were more than willing.”

The email asked for gift cards to help someone who was in trouble and parishioners didn't hesitate to donate.

O’Rourke was tipped off that something was wrong when he got a phone call from one of the parishioners.

“They asked me where they wanted me to send the gift cards,” O’Rourke said. “I didn't know what they were talking about, then all of the sudden we realized there was some type of scam.”

The church acted fast by sending out a message to parishioners Tuesday night warning them about the scam saying someone was posing as the pastor and to delete any emails they got from the imposter.

At least three people donated hundreds of dollars.

A Better Business Bureau official said that scams like this are nothing new.

“(A scam can) takes so many different forms,” Page Castrodale, with the BBB, said. “No one is immune to it obviously.”

Castrodale said there is the only thing to do to not fall victim is to double check everything before sending money.

“You’re talking about any kind of charitable giving, people put their defenses down a little bit,” Castrodale said.

Experts said to always check with the organization you're supposedly sending money to and ensure it's not a scam.

BBB officials said it is unlikely victims will get their money back.

Police are investigating the scam.

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