We have received reports that a number of people in the SWCA Synod territory have received an email/emails purporting to be from Interim Bishop Finck, asking them to purchase gift cards and other products to give to staff or to help those in need or affected by COVID-19.
This email is a scam, is not from Bishop Finck or any other staff member, and does not originate from a legitimate SWCA Synod or ELCA email address, which would end in socalsynod.org or elca.org. Please do not respond to such emails; instead delete and block them.
Religious groups have become easy targets for these types of scams, which take advantage of people's generosity, and ELCA synods and congregations across the country have seen a marked increase in such attempts over the past few years. The "giving season" of Advent and Christmas, as well as the COVID-19 crisis, is an opportunity for scammers, phishers, and spoofers to exploit the desire to help a neighbor in need.
As always, do not click on a link, send money or gift cards, or provide checking account or credit card information in response to ANY emailed solicitation from ANYBODY without checking with a trusted source.
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