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We want to share an important reminder with our church family.

Unfortunately, scams have become increasingly sophisticated, and recently one of our own members lost a significant amount of money after receiving what appeared to be a legitimate phone call from their bank. The caller ID displayed the bank's phone number, and the caller had enough personal information to sound trustworthy. The scam ultimately involved transferring money through Zelle.

Please remember:

  • Be cautious of unexpected phone calls, even if the caller ID appears to be your bank or another trusted organization. Phone numbers can be "spoofed" to look legitimate.
  • Never feel pressured to act immediately. Scammers often create a sense of urgency to keep you from stopping to think.
  • If someone claims to be from your bank, hang up and call the bank directly using the phone number on the back of your debit or credit card or from the bank's official website.
  • Never send money to yourself or to a "safe" account through Zelle or another payment service because someone on the phone tells you to. Banks will not ask you to do this.
  • Never share verification codes or passwords that are texted or emailed to you.
  • When in doubt, ask someone you trust before sending money or sharing personal information.

Scammers are becoming very convincing, and anyone can become a victim. The best defense is to slow down, verify independently, and never let someone on an unexpected call rush you into making a financial decision.

Let's continue to look out for one another. If you hear about a new scam or have concerns about a suspicious call or message, don't hesitate to share it with family, friends, or another trusted person. A simple conversation may help protect someone else.