12/10/2019
Have you received text messages, emails, or Facebook messages that look as if they are from someone claiming to be Father Pat and asking for money or gift cards, indicating it’s an emergency?
DON'T BE FOOLED! This is a scam text/email. No priest or staff member from the Archdiocese of New Orleans will ever send you a text that looks like this.
First, your pastor or parochial vicar will never contact a parishioner directly with an emergency request for cash or gift cards. Messages asking parishioners to help fulfill a need would come through the parish’s or the Archdiocese’s official communication channels or be accomplished through a collection approved by the Archdiocese.
If you’re not sure about a text or email you’ve received, do not engage or respond and call your parish office right away to notify a staff member. In addition, please note that neither your parish nor the Archdiocese will ever sell or give away parishioners’ personal information.
In a text, a scam can be identified by looking at the phone number. If the area code is not local, it’s probably a scam.
If you are contacted by a scammer, report it to your parish or the Archdiocese. If you can, take screen shots of the message on your phone or computer and email them to the parish or the Archdiocese. A member of the staff will inform the pastor/parochial vicar.
File a report through the Federal Trade Commission’s Complaint Assistant which helps the FTC detect patterns of fraud and abuse. https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
