Miami, Fla., Apr 18, 2019 / 16:16 pm
The Archdiocese of Miami is warning Catholics against a spate of fake priests who are scamming parishioners for money and gift cards, supposedly for good causes.
The problem has cropped up in multiple parishes in the area, the archdiocese told CBS News.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski told CBS that he was assuring Catholics that "no Catholic clergyman will ask a parishioner for a gift card."
In some of the scams, the scam artist will purport to be Archbishop Wenski himself, or the auxiliary bishop of Miami, which was the fake signature on this bogus message shown to CBS News: "I need you to get an iTunes gift card for soma patients going through cancer in the hospital and I promised each patient but I can't do this right now...I will pay back as soon as I get back. Let me know if you can get it Many blessings."