The Peterborough Police Service is warning residents that the fake priest scam targeting local parishioners for electronic gift cards is still circulating in our area and has now evolved to include the name of the Bishop in the fraudulent communication.
In August 2018 the complainant received an email from someone pretending to be a local priest. In the email the bogus priest asks for $400 in iTunes gift cards for a friend going through cancer at the hospital.
The email went on to state that once the victim had purchased the gift cards they needed to take a picture of the numbers on the card and send the image back via email. The email ended with “many blessings” and the name of a local priest. The victim did not fall for the scam and contacted the Peterborough Diocese and the Peterborough Police Service.
Locally, this fraud is evolving and we have received recent reports that the fraudulent emails are now personating the Bishop and being signed in the Bishop’s name.
To date no one locally has fallen victim to the scam. The Peterborough Police Service continues to work closely with the Peterborough Diocese to ensure parishioners are informed regarding this scam.
If you receive one of these fraudulent emails please contact the Office of the Bishop/Communications of the Peterborough Diocese at ab@peterboroughdiocese.org or 705-745-5123 and also contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
If you have fallen victim to this fraud, meaning you have lost money, please contact the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 or report the incident online http://www.peterboroughpolice.com/report/a-crime/
For more information on frauds and scams please visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
