Stealing money
from well-meaning people
Another email scam has been sent. It is a fake.
Reverend Amy would never send an email requesting money or make a phone call to ask for money.
DO NOT RESPOND TO THE FAKE EMAIL.
Our Unitarian Universalist Association has additional information on this subject...
Here is an example of a recent scam email sent to a member, claiming that Rev. Amy had sent it, which she did not.
Reverend Amy would never send an email requesting money or make a phone call to ask for money.
DO NOT RESPOND TO THE FAKE EMAIL.
Our Unitarian Universalist Association has additional information on this subject...
Here is an example of a recent scam email sent to a member, claiming that Rev. Amy had sent it, which she did not.
This is the stream that went to Laura and several other members. At first she thought it was real. But then she noticed the nuances and realized something was wrong. Notice the fraudulent email address for Rev. Amy.
On Mon, Nov 8, 2021 at 7:41 AM Reverend Amy Kindred <[email protected]> wrote:
Thanks for your response Laura,
I just need to get gift card today for some women going through cancer at the hospital but I can't do that right now because of my busy schedule. Can you get it from any store around you? and I will pay you back later in cash or check. Let me know if you can get the cards for these patients.
God Bless
Reverend Amy Kindred
Friendship Fellowship at Pineda
3115 Friendship Pl,
Rockledge, FL 32955
----------------------------------------------------------
AT FIRST I FELL FOR IT …
Target? Walmart - how much?
I'd be glad to help.
L
From: Reverend Amy Kindred <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, Nov 8, 2021 at 8:06 AM
Subject: Re: Many Blessings
To: Laura
Thank you Laura, Yes you cam get them at any store around you i would be glad if you can get them to me as soon as you can. There are 6 of the women but I'm thinking of $300 worth of eBay gift card only for 3 for now, ($100 denomination each. That's 3 cards of $100 each). I am currently in a pressing meeting with some family members. I only need you to scratch the cards, then take a SNAP SHOT of the back each showing the PIN and have them sent to me here so I'll just forward to them easily. Can you do that for me right away? Please let me know if that's okay with you. Also don't forget to let me know if you would want me to pay you back the $300 in cash or check.
God Bless
Reverend Amy Kindred
Friendship Fellowship at Pineda
3115 Friendship Pl,
Rockledge, FL 32955
--------------------------------------------------
Providing a picture of the card gives the scammer the card number and the PIN password. It's like giving them the key. They can go online and withdraw the funds immediately. Asking how you want to get paid is a subtle reminder of the fake promise to pay you back. The moment the scammer gets the PIN password they'll go online, withdraw the money and disappear, never to be heard from again.
The power company is another favorite ruse. You'll get a message from a scammer claiming that your payment has not been received and your power will be shut off today. You are instructed to buy a cash card and give them the number and PIN password so they can immediately credit your account and prevent your power from being shut off. It's an alarming and swift way to steal money.
On Mon, Nov 8, 2021 at 7:41 AM Reverend Amy Kindred <[email protected]> wrote:
Thanks for your response Laura,
I just need to get gift card today for some women going through cancer at the hospital but I can't do that right now because of my busy schedule. Can you get it from any store around you? and I will pay you back later in cash or check. Let me know if you can get the cards for these patients.
God Bless
Reverend Amy Kindred
Friendship Fellowship at Pineda
3115 Friendship Pl,
Rockledge, FL 32955
----------------------------------------------------------
AT FIRST I FELL FOR IT …
Target? Walmart - how much?
I'd be glad to help.
L
From: Reverend Amy Kindred <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, Nov 8, 2021 at 8:06 AM
Subject: Re: Many Blessings
To: Laura
Thank you Laura, Yes you cam get them at any store around you i would be glad if you can get them to me as soon as you can. There are 6 of the women but I'm thinking of $300 worth of eBay gift card only for 3 for now, ($100 denomination each. That's 3 cards of $100 each). I am currently in a pressing meeting with some family members. I only need you to scratch the cards, then take a SNAP SHOT of the back each showing the PIN and have them sent to me here so I'll just forward to them easily. Can you do that for me right away? Please let me know if that's okay with you. Also don't forget to let me know if you would want me to pay you back the $300 in cash or check.
God Bless
Reverend Amy Kindred
Friendship Fellowship at Pineda
3115 Friendship Pl,
Rockledge, FL 32955
--------------------------------------------------
Providing a picture of the card gives the scammer the card number and the PIN password. It's like giving them the key. They can go online and withdraw the funds immediately. Asking how you want to get paid is a subtle reminder of the fake promise to pay you back. The moment the scammer gets the PIN password they'll go online, withdraw the money and disappear, never to be heard from again.
The power company is another favorite ruse. You'll get a message from a scammer claiming that your payment has not been received and your power will be shut off today. You are instructed to buy a cash card and give them the number and PIN password so they can immediately credit your account and prevent your power from being shut off. It's an alarming and swift way to steal money.
Here is an example of a recent scam email sent to a member in Sarasota, claiming that their minister, Rev. Roger Fritts, had sent it, which he did not.
From: Rev Roger Fritts <[the scammer used a bogus email account with Roger's name in it]>
This email even included a picture of Roger.
Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 11:00 AM
Subject: PEACE BE WITH YOU
To: [member's email address]
Hello How are you doing?
I need a favor from you message me as soon as you get this
God Bless
Rev. Roger Fritts
-------------------------------------------------
Our member sent the following reply:
From: [member's name and email address]
Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: PEACE BE WITH YOU
To: Rev Roger Fritts <[Roger's bogus email address]>
Message? How? I can text you. What's the number?
------------------------------------------------
Which generated this response, probably automatically generated when the member replied to the scam email. Notice that the response does not answer the member's question.
from: Rev Roger Fritts <[Roger's bogus email address]>
to: [member's name and email address]
date:Mar 16, 2020, 11:07 AM
subject:Re: PEACE BE WITH YOU
Thanks for getting back to me [member's name] , Am in meeting right now , and can not make calls , and due to my busy schedule, I can not get things done myself ,
I just need to get Steam card or eBay today for some women going through cancer at the hospital but I can't do that right now because of my busy schedule.
Can you get it from any store around you? and I will pay you back later in cash or check.
Let me know if you can get the card for these patients.
God Bless
-----------------------------------------------
The member replied with this:
From: [member's email address]
Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 12:33 PM
Subject: Re: PEACE BE WITH YOU
To: Rev Roger Fritts <[Roger's bogus email address]>
How do I get a Steam card or eBay?
----------------------------------------------------
and got this response. Notice that the intended victim is again promised to be paid back.
from: Rev Roger Fritts <[Roger's bogus email address]>
Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 12:36 PM
Subject: Re: PEACE BE WITH YOU
to: [member's name and email address]
Ok good I will be so glad if you can get the for me.There are 10 of the women
but I'm thinking of $500 worth of Steam Gift card or eBay gift Card only for 5 for now, ($100 or $50 denomination each. That's 5 cards of $100 each).
Steam Gift card or eBayCard can be get at Best Buy, Kroger, Walmart or Target Store , and get it activated at the point of buying
Am out of the parish office for a pressing meeting. I only need you to scratch the cards, then take a SNAP SHOT of the back each showing the PIN and have them sent to me here so I'll just forward to them easily.
Will you be able to get the card for the patients right away?
Please let me know if that's okay with you.
Also don't forget to let me know if you would want me to pay you
back the $500 in cash or check
-------------------------------------------------
Had the member bought the gift cards and followed the email instructions, the scammer would have cashed the gift cards. The member would never have heard from the scammer again and would never have received any money back.
Our ministers do not solicit donations by email. Roger is contacting the email service provider about this. But it's likely to happen again with a different email address. Especially if the scammer was successful.
From: Rev Roger Fritts <[the scammer used a bogus email account with Roger's name in it]>
This email even included a picture of Roger.
Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 11:00 AM
Subject: PEACE BE WITH YOU
To: [member's email address]
Hello How are you doing?
I need a favor from you message me as soon as you get this
God Bless
Rev. Roger Fritts
-------------------------------------------------
Our member sent the following reply:
From: [member's name and email address]
Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: PEACE BE WITH YOU
To: Rev Roger Fritts <[Roger's bogus email address]>
Message? How? I can text you. What's the number?
------------------------------------------------
Which generated this response, probably automatically generated when the member replied to the scam email. Notice that the response does not answer the member's question.
from: Rev Roger Fritts <[Roger's bogus email address]>
to: [member's name and email address]
date:Mar 16, 2020, 11:07 AM
subject:Re: PEACE BE WITH YOU
Thanks for getting back to me [member's name] , Am in meeting right now , and can not make calls , and due to my busy schedule, I can not get things done myself ,
I just need to get Steam card or eBay today for some women going through cancer at the hospital but I can't do that right now because of my busy schedule.
Can you get it from any store around you? and I will pay you back later in cash or check.
Let me know if you can get the card for these patients.
God Bless
-----------------------------------------------
The member replied with this:
From: [member's email address]
Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 12:33 PM
Subject: Re: PEACE BE WITH YOU
To: Rev Roger Fritts <[Roger's bogus email address]>
How do I get a Steam card or eBay?
----------------------------------------------------
and got this response. Notice that the intended victim is again promised to be paid back.
from: Rev Roger Fritts <[Roger's bogus email address]>
Date: Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 12:36 PM
Subject: Re: PEACE BE WITH YOU
to: [member's name and email address]
Ok good I will be so glad if you can get the for me.There are 10 of the women
but I'm thinking of $500 worth of Steam Gift card or eBay gift Card only for 5 for now, ($100 or $50 denomination each. That's 5 cards of $100 each).
Steam Gift card or eBayCard can be get at Best Buy, Kroger, Walmart or Target Store , and get it activated at the point of buying
Am out of the parish office for a pressing meeting. I only need you to scratch the cards, then take a SNAP SHOT of the back each showing the PIN and have them sent to me here so I'll just forward to them easily.
Will you be able to get the card for the patients right away?
Please let me know if that's okay with you.
Also don't forget to let me know if you would want me to pay you
back the $500 in cash or check
-------------------------------------------------
Had the member bought the gift cards and followed the email instructions, the scammer would have cashed the gift cards. The member would never have heard from the scammer again and would never have received any money back.
Our ministers do not solicit donations by email. Roger is contacting the email service provider about this. But it's likely to happen again with a different email address. Especially if the scammer was successful.