Search
-
April 15, 2019Fraudulent messages claiming to come from "Father Patrick" are again being delivered to parishioners — this time utilizing text messaging — with the intent to confuse, manipulate, and steal. See the photo at right for an example.
Just like the email scams which have been targeting parishioners since November, these texts are coming from non-Nativity contacts.
Nativity clergy and staff will never send “emergency” or “urgent” texts requesting
money, Google Play gift cards, iTunes gift cards, or any other monetary requests.
If you receive a questionable text, please do not reply, and certainly do not purchase anything or provide any sensitive information, particularly financial information.
Please always be vigilant and even be skeptical of unknown cell numbers. Even if the texter uses a familiar name, and even if the text uses your name.
When in doubt, contact the supposed source party through another channel, or ignore it altogether.
What to do if you receive a text from a scammer claiming to be Fr. Patrick:
- You can sometimes report a scammer directly from your mobile device (see photo at right).
- Forward the text to 7726 (the numbers spell out SPAM). Doing so allows cell phone carriers to identify the senders of smishing messages and take steps to limit messages from them going forward.
- You are also encouraged to make a report to the Federal Trade Commission here: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-4.
- Block the number from sending you future texts.
Thank you!
-- Previous post on phishing emails: https://nativity-mn.org/news/phishing-emails
- The Catholic Spirit article, which quotes our blog posts: http://thecatholicspirit.com/featured/online-scam-targets-priests-parishioners/
Updated 5/6/2019 to include The Catholic Spirit article link
