By Seth Hinz
A text pops up on a Tuesday morning. It’s your pastor. He’s traveling and can’t take calls right now. He needs a favor, “Could you help? I need you to get three $100 gift cards for family in need. I’ll reimburse you the next time I can come visit you.”
Of course, you want to help. You know your pastor, and you’re generous by nature. The idea of being able to help him and help a family at the same time seems like a no-brainer.
Do not buy the cards. The text is not from your pastor. Your pastor is not even aware that texts are being sent on his behalf.
Since 2013, I’ve led a network of Lutheran church communicators, and this type of scam comes up every few months.
Scammers keep changing the story and method.
Here are real examples shared by the network: needing gift cards, requests for church directories, piano giveaways, event invite emails that require logins, or claiming your computer has a virus.
But, even when the story and names change, the playbook does not.
Scammers scrape staff names from church websites, fake their location, and count on your willingness to serve. They exploit your generosity.
Nearly every one of these scams has the same three traits. A clock, so you can’t think. A reason you can’t check: Your pastor is busy, or it’s confidential. And a way to send money that nobody can trace — gift cards, wire transfers, or cash.
Whether the call or text claims to be your pastor, a church leader, or even your own grandchild, before you send a penny, take three steps:
- Hit pause: Do not reply directly to the text. Do not click links. Do not call the number that messaged you. If a scammer is on the phone, just hang up. Your pastor will never be offended by you taking the time to verify.
- Verify through a trusted channel: Call the church office directly or a phone number you’ve saved and used before. One 30-second phone call can put a stop to the scam.
- Report it: Let the church office or leadership team know right away. If you got a message, it’s likely others did, too. Alerting staff helps them warn other members before someone else falls victim to the scam.
If you’ve already fallen for one of these, act first and do not sit in a place of embarrassment. Call your bank or the number on the back of the gift card and report it right away. Money is sometimes recoverable in the first day or two. Then tell the church office.
Your instinct to help is a strength. These fake requests are sent by professional scam artists who have learned how to mimic the people you trust. Watching for the red flags and taking quick steps to verify will ensure the support you give reaches the people who need it.
Seth Hinz is the chief advancement officer for Lutheran Bible Translators. For years, he’s led the Lutheran Communicators group on Facebook, helping ministry professionals to navigate the evolving digital environment.