We have received word from a congregation that incurred a sizable loss of funds to do an elaborate and sophisticated email scam. Scammers use email addresses similar to existing church email accounts of pastors and other staff members, often requesting sizable sums of money to be wired for “projects that are URGENT and CONFIDENTIAL”. The scammers prey on treasurers and/or accountants, often impersonating the pastor in making these persistent requests. Unfortunately, local law enforcement units are all too familiar with these unfortunate scams which seem to be focused on churches as their next victims. We encourage you to contact those within your congregations who have access to your church’s bank accounts and make them aware of this potential scam.
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Clergy Financial Resources serves as a resource for clients to help analyze the complexity of clergy tax law, church payroll & HR issues. Our professionals are committed to helping clients stay informed about tax news, developments and trends in various specialty areas.
This article is intended to provide readers with guidance in tax matters. The article does not constitute, and should not be treated as professional advice regarding the use of any particular tax technique. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information. Clergy Financial Resources and the author do not assume responsibility for any individual’s reliance upon the information provided in the article. Readers should independently verify all information before applying it to a particular fact situation, and should independently determine the impact of any particular tax planning technique. If you are seeking legal advice, you are encouraged to consult an attorney.
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