GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Channel 9 has learned someone is pretending to be prominent Gaston County preachers to try and rip off the faithful.
The scheme involved emails that played up an effort to help someone who was sick. The fake request looked like it came from real pastors.
Members of at least three churches Channel 9 spoke with said they started getting those emails Friday.
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The messages looked like they came from the pastor who is working to help someone with cancer or a pressing medical need, and said he needed money fast from Google Play cards.
"It's unfortunate that someone would try to take advantage of the good will that you have created with your congregation and the trust that you created with your people,” pastor Jeff Long said.
Long leads Parkwood Baptist Church, where the marquee on Tuesday mentions “precious love,” the very spirit the email scammers hope to manipulate.
The urgent tone of the email that went to Long’s members late last week didn't match what they are used to hearing from their pastor.
"Started getting emails from members right away. This doesn't sound like you. This doesn't sound like something you would ask,” he said.
It wasn’t Long, but the email used his name to make it look real.
Somehow the scammers tapped into a database of pastors and members hoping to find someone willing to act without thinking.
One person at Venture Church in Dallas did act.
Ministers at all three churches have sent advisories to members asking them to ignore the emails and double check any requests for money they receive.
"Don't take advantage of the Lord's people,” Long said.
Pastors always worry that scams like this may make people less likely to give to legitimate causes.
Gastonia police's Cyber Crimes Unit is investigating these cases. Officials said catching people behind things like this is often very difficult. Many times, they are operating from another country.
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