Warning Notice: Scam Alert

We have been informed of recent scam activity targeting members of our clergy for financial gain.

Over the past week, there have been several reports of individuals fabricating stories of hardship to solicit money. These scammers appear to be conducting online research on their targets prior to making contact.

So far, one minister has reported losing £200 to this scam. The names used by the scammers include Stephen, Lisa, and their son Callum, who is described as either 9 years old with autism or 7 years old with ADHD. A phone number associated with these scams is 07840225070.

The scammers request that money be transferred via BACS to a Barclays account.

Please remain vigilant and do not transfer money to unknown individuals. If you encounter such requests, contact your local District Safeguarding Officer.

Any scam/phishing emails should be forwarded to the National Cyber Security Centre at the following email address report@phishing.gov.uk.

Additionally here is a guide to follow to check the request:

1. Unsolicited and Unfamiliar Sender: If you receive an email from someone you don't know, especially with a story about a child needing money, be wary.
2. Urgent or Distressing Subject Line: Scammers often use urgent or emotional subject lines to grab your attention (e.g., "Help Needed for a Sick Child!" or "Urgent: Child in Need").
3. Emotional Manipulation: The email may use a heart-wrenching story to evoke sympathy and urgency. Be suspicious of overly emotional language designed to make you act quickly.
4. Request for Money: Legitimate charities rarely ask for money directly through email, especially from individuals who haven't previously been in contact with them. Be cautious if the email requests money via bank transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
5. Personal Information Requests: Scammers might ask for personal information under the guise of needing it to process your donation. Never share sensitive personal information like your National Insurance number, bank details, or passwords.
6. Generic Greetings and Poor Grammar: Scams often use generic greetings like "Dear Friend" instead of your name. Look for spelling and grammar mistakes, which are common in scam emails.
7. Suspicious Links or Attachments: Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unsolicited emails. These could contain malware or lead to phishing websites.
8. Check the Email Address: Look at the sender's email address. Scammers often use addresses that mimic legitimate organisations but with slight alterations (e.g., info@charity-aid.org instead of info@charityaid.org).
9. Research the Charity: If the email claims to be from a charity, search for the organisation online. Check their official website for donation information and contact them directly to verify the request.
10. Too Good to Be True: Be sceptical of any promise of a reward or high return in exchange for your donation, which is a common scam tactic.
11. No Proof or Verification: Legitimate organisations usually provide clear, verifiable information about their work and how donations are used. If the email lacks details or proof, it’s likely a scam.