Be Aware of Email Scams Impersonating Church Leaders
- Jun 18
- 2 min read
Unfortunately, email scams targeting churches and faith communities have become increasingly common. In many cases, scammers create email accounts that appear to be from ministers, staff members, or church leaders and then send messages asking for a favor, gift cards, money, or other assistance.
Please remember: Rev. Chris and other First Church leaders will never email you asking for a vague or urgent favor, gift cards, cash, wire transfers, or sensitive personal information, especially without context.
Scammers often rely on creating a sense of urgency. They may ask you to reply quickly, keep the request confidential, or purchase something on behalf of the church. These messages can look convincing and may even include a leader's name or photo.
If you receive an unexpected email that seems unusual:
Do not click any links or open attachments.
Do not reply to the email, even to ask if it is legitimate.
Do not send money, gift card numbers, passwords, or personal information.
Check the sender's email address carefully.
Contact the church office or the person directly using contact information you already know, not information provided in the suspicious email.
When in doubt, assume the message may be fraudulent until confirmed otherwise.
Replying to a scam email can let scammers know that your email address is active and may lead to additional scam attempts.
If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from Rev. Chris or another church leader, please contact the church directly for verification:
Our church community thrives because we trust one another. Scammers know this and try to take advantage of that trust. A healthy dose of caution helps protect both you and our congregation.
In community,
Raeann
