PETERBOROUGH-The Peterborough Police Service is warning residents that the fake priest scam targeting local parishioners for electronic gift cards is still circulating in our area and has now evolved to include the name of the Bishop in the alleged fraudulent communication.
Police say in August 2018 a resident allegedly received an email from someone pretending to be a local priest. In the email the bogus priest asks for $400 in iTunes gift cards for a friend going through cancer at the hospital.
The email went on to state that once the victim had purchased the gift cards they needed to take a picture of the numbers on the card and send the image back via email according to police. The email ended with “many blessings” and the name of a local priest.
The victim did not fall for the scam and contacted the Peterborough Diocese and the Peterborough Police Service.
Locally, this fraud is evolving and police have received recent reports that the fraudulent emails are now personating the Bishop and being signed in the Bishop’s name.
To date no one locally has fallen victim to the scam.
If you receive one of these fraudulent emails please contact the Office of the Bishop/Communications of the Peterborough Diocese at [email protected] or 705-745-5123 and also contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or http://www.antifraudcentre-
If you have fallen victim to this fraud, meaning you have lost money, please contact the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 or report the incident online https://www.
For more information on frauds and scams please visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: http://www.antifraudcentre-
 photo credit: Lawrence OP Nave of the Sweetest Heart of Mary via photopin (license)
