Fraud

“The FBI’s Internet Crime Report shows cyber crimes steadily rising over the last five years…. Here is a list of high-tech schemes and how churches can protect their congregations.” - MinistryWatch

“Most of the time, fraud doesn’t begin with bad intentions. It often starts with a lack of oversight or one person carrying too much responsibility. Over time, those gaps can open the door for mistakes or misuse. Add in life pressures or financial struggles, and the temptation to cut corners can be real.” - Baptist Press

“These incidents were far from isolated, as churches and nonprofits both large and small increasingly find themselves in the cross-hairs of email scammers.” - MinistryWatch

“the church received an email from Landmark Construction, the company overseeing the project, that included an invoice…. the church received a second email immediately after the first one that included payment instructions.” - BPNews

“Dirk Obbink…. dodged the private investigators trying to serve him a legal summons in August and September and failed to answer the official letter notifying him that he was required to respond to allegations he had defrauded Hobby Lobby by selling the craft store $7 million worth of ancient papyri that he didn’t actually own.” - C.Today

“Gallagher, 80, and his Gallagher Financial Group advertised on Christian radio with the tagline, ‘See you in church on Sunday.’ He promoted his investment business in books… and on Christian radio broadcasts.” - RNS

“The US Attorney’s Office of Eastern New York says that Hobby Lobby legally purchased the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet for $1.6 million to loan to the museum, but the papers documenting the artifact’s purchase history were false.” - CToday

“The ministry’s website includes testimonies from several people who said the oil from the bible healed them.” - WRBC

“The first scam directs emails at church staff. In it, ‘the pastor’ requests the recipient to send funds or gift cards with PINs….The second scam is worse because it targets congregants. Seeming to be from “the pastor” or a trusted church leader, congregants are asked to wire funds or send gift cards with PINs.” - Church Leaders

“Here are five simple suggestions for keeping your church safe in this area” - SBC Voices