Calumet County Sheriff's Office (Fox 11 Online)
(WTAQ-WLUK) — The Calumet County Sheriff’s Office is warning against a scam that includes convincing text messages claiming to be from a local pastor or priest.
Reports say the message often says the local pastor or priest is at a hospital and urgently needs gift cards to hand out. They ask the recipient to buy several cards and text photos of the card numbers, with a promise of reimbursement the next day.
Once the photos are sent, the money is gone.
What makes these texts seem real:
- They may use familiar names from the recipient’s church or community.
- The message may sound urgent, caring, and believable.
Red flags to watch for:
- This is not a typical request from a church leader.
- The message may come from an out-of-state phone number.
- Any request for gift cards or photos of gift cards is a major warning sign.
If you receive a text like this:
- Slow down
- Do not buy gift cards.
- Do not send photos or codes.
- Contact the church directly using a trusted phone number (from the church office, a bulletin, or an official website).
- If you’re unsure, it’s okay to reply that you can’t help—or simply ignore the message.
Deputies say as a reminder, phone numbers can be spoofed, meaning criminals can make a text look like it’s coming from someone you trust. They may also move beyond churches and use other organizations, groups, or businesses.
Tip for churches and organizations: Use caution when publicly posting members’ phone numbers online—scammers may use that information to make messages more convincing.
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