Avoiding Pastor Impersonation Scams: Tips and Advice
The scam is not new. Scammers sometimes pretend to be a pastor, priest, church employee, or other trusted church leader. They do this by sending an email or text message that looks like it came from someone you know. The message may say things like:
- “I need your help right away.”
- “Can you do me a favor?”
- “Please buy some gift cards for me.”
- “I need you to send money.”
- “Please send me this information.”
The scammer may even use the pastor’s name and make the message look very real. Remember: Just because an email or text has your pastor’s name on it does not mean it really came from your pastor.
What You Should Do
If you receive an unusual or unexpected message from your pastor or another church leader, stop and check before doing anything. If the message asks you to:
- Buy gift cards
- Send money
- Transfer money
- Give someone your password or other private information
- Click on a strange link
Do not respond right away. Instead, call the pastor or church office using a telephone number you already know is correct either from the church website or bulletin. Simply ask, “Did you send me this message?”
Simple Ways Churches Can Protect Their Members
Churches can take several simple steps to help prevent these scams.
1. Use Official Church Email Addresses
Pastors and church employees should use their official church email addresses when conducting church business. This makes it easier for people to recognize legitimate messages.
2. Make the Rules Clear
Churches should tell members and employees: “Our pastors and church employees will never ask you by email or text to buy gift cards, send money, or provide private information.” This simple rule can prevent many scams. You may have to re-emphasize this every year during the holidays and promote the ways in which you do receive donations.
3. Add an Extra Lock to Church Email
Church email accounts should have an extra security step when someone signs in. For example, the person may have to enter a code sent to their phone in addition to their password. This makes it much harder for a scammer to get into the account, even if the scammer somehow learns the password.
When in Doubt, Stop and Check
Everyone should remember a few simple rules:
- Do not rush. Scammers often try to make you feel that something must be done immediately.
- Be suspicious of unexpected requests for money.
- Do not click on a link or open an attachment if you are not sure who sent it (or you aren’t expecting a link or attachment from that person).
- Use a different password for important accounts.
- Ask someone you trust for help if something does not look or feel right.
The Most Important Rule: If a message from your pastor asks you to send money, buy gift cards, or provide private information, stop and call the church office. It is always better to take a few minutes to check than to lose money to a scam.
Remember: These Scams Take Advantage of Trust
These scams work because they take advantage of something good about us: we trust our pastors, our church leaders, and one another, and we want to help when someone asks. A scammer knows this. They may pretend to be someone you know and trust and then ask you to do something quickly, such as sending money or buying gift cards. No matter how good the church’s computer security may be, it cannot prevent someone from willingly helping a person they believe is a trusted church leader.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to help. The important thing is to pause and make sure the request is really from the person you know. Again, when in doubt, stop and call the church office or the person directly using a phone number you already have. Taking a moment to check is not being rude or unhelpful, it is being wise and protecting yourself and your church family.
If you feel you’ve been a victim of this type of fraud please contact the local authorities as well as https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/.
Other sources:
Scammers impersonate clergy to steal holiday donations – ABC News – November 2025
Your Pastor Won’t Text You to Ask for Gift Cards – Christianity Today – January 2025
Is that gift card helping your congregation or paying a scammer? FTC – September 2024
Worshipers targeted by gift card scam FTC – July 2022
Scam artists posing as religious leaders to dupe people of faith CBS News – July 2019
Scammers pose as pastors in email, ask faithful to buy gift cards – National Catholic Reporter – May 2019
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