Protecting the Flock: A Catholic Guide to Spotting & Stopping Digital Scams

Protecting the Flock: A Catholic Guide to Spotting & Stopping Digital Scams

By Marge Hynes, Writer

Trust, a cornerstone of our faith, is under attack. Cybercriminals are targeting Catholic parishes, ministries, and older adults with online scams designed to exploit our sense of community and goodwill. These aren’t just your run-of-the-mill, generic spam emails. They’re personalized and convincing—scammers posing as priests, parish staff, or trusted organizations to steal money and sensitive information.

But there’s hope. A growing network of Catholic leaders, cybersecurity experts, and faithful organizations like Carmel Communications are stepping up to defend our digital spaces. With guidance from experts like Theresa Payton, parishes and families can now learn practical, faith-based strategies to recognize scams and protect their communities.

If you or someone you love is active in their Catholic community, this guide is for you.

What Is “Faith Fraud”? 

Faith fraud happens when scammers use the language, symbols, and trusted voices of the Church to deceive people. It might be an urgent email that looks like it’s from a priest, a DM from a fake Catholic influencer, or even a hacked account tied to a well-known ministry.

The goal is usually the same: to persuade you to send money or give up your personal information. Sadly, this kind of fraud is on the rise. The FBI reported over $3.4 billion in losses to elder fraud in 2023 alone, with more than 101,000 complaints coming from people 60 and older. And in 2024, the FTC tracked nearly $3 billion in losses just from imposter scams.

So why does this matter to us as Catholics?

Because when scammers disguise themselves in the language of prayer, community, or charity, the harm goes deeper. They’re not just stealing, they’re exploiting faith, trust, and a willingness to help. They often target the most vulnerable people in our parishes—our elderly, our generous, our kindhearted. According to Carmel Communications, one senior lost over $10,000 after exchanging messages with someone pretending to be her priest.

The Church hasn’t ignored this growing threat. Pope Francis spoke about the need for a moral reckoning with the internet, reminding us that while technology can be a force for good, it has to be shaped by ethics. Pope Leo XIV has echoed these same concerns, especially with the rise of AI and online impersonation.

Who Are These Scammers Pretending to Be?

Short answer: people you know, trust, or follow online.

Scammers aren’t picking random names. They’re choosing familiar faces to lower your guard. Clergy are frequent targets, and the story usually always sounds urgent: a parishioner in crisis, a charity short on funds, a bill that needs to be paid today. The request? Send them money quickly, often via gift cards, PayPal, Venmo, crypto, or wire transfer.

But it’s not just local leaders being impersonated. Christian celebrities and influencers are also being used as bait:

• Fr. Mike Schmitz is regularly impersonated in DMs asking for donations or offering “exclusive prayer access.” Ascension Press has publicly warned us: Fr. Mike will never DM you asking for money or personal information.
• Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in The Chosen, nearly lost access to his social media when a scammer pretending to be a podcast booker tried to gain control of his accounts.
• Mark Wahlberg and Chris Pratt, both open about their faith, have had fake accounts pop up offering fan club memberships or soliciting donations.
• Former Tyler, Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland had his X account hacked and used to promote a crypto scam.
• John Crist, a Christian comedian, had his Facebook account taken over and misused to post inappropriate content.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Scammers know exactly who they’re targeting, and older adults are often at the top of the list. Here’s why:

1. Emotional manipulation. Fraudsters don’t just ask for money; they tug at the heart. They’ll send fake prayer requests or moral appeals—Don’t you want to help a seminarian in need?—counting on the kindness of faithful people.
2. High financial stakes. The average reported loss for older adults in 2023 was $33,915, according to FBI data. And that’s just the reported cases. The National Council on Aging estimates that unreported fraud among older adults exceeds $48 billion annually.
3. Gaps in digital familiarity. Many seniors are online every day and perfectly tech literate. But not everyone is fluent in spotting phishing emails, fake profiles, or subtle red flags, and scammers know it.
4. Scams that sound like service. One of the most effective tricks is the “do me a favor” scam, often posing as a priest or ministry leader asking for urgent help. Because it sounds like a plea for charity, it bypasses critical thinking and plays directly into the Christian instinct to respond generously.

Who Is Taking Charge to Protect the Flock?

Thankfully, we’re not alone in this fight. Theresa Payton, a nationally recognized cybersecurity expert and the first woman to serve as White House Chief Information Officer, is leading a growing campaign to help churches and religious communities push back against digital scams. As CEO of Fortalice Solutions, Payton focuses on defending vulnerable groups, especially the elderly, from online predators and organized cybercrime.

“Scammers are no longer just targeting corporations or banks, they’re targeting faith,” Payton said in a press release from Carmel Communications. “They exploit trust, community and compassion, often preying on people’s religious devotion. We want to make sure every believer, especially seniors, knows how to spot the signs and stay safe.”

Lisa Wheeler, founder and president of Carmel Communications, is also on the front lines. With decades of experience in Christian media, Wheeler knows how to spot deception and how to sound the alarm. She’s been instrumental in protecting high-profile Catholic figures like Jonathan Roumie, and her firm actively partners with cybersecurity experts to help warn both Church leaders and laypeople.

“As someone who has had the privilege of working with talent like Jonathan, I’m deeply concerned about the vulnerability of their fans to online scams and impersonation,” said Wheeler. “It’s heartbreaking to see scammers exploit people’s trust and goodwill, and it’s crucial that we take steps to protect both our clients and their devoted followers from these threats.”

So what does this campaign actually look like? Here are a few ways it’s hitting the ground:

• Scam alerts included in church bulletins, parish emails, and newsletters
• Online safety workshops hosted at parishes and diocesan offices
• Encouraging open conversations within families, especially with elderly parents and grandparents, about online safety
• Amplifying public warnings from trusted Catholic voices like Pope Leo, Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension Press, and Carmel Communications

What Can You Do To Help?

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself and your community. You just need to stay alert, informed, and be willing to speak up! Here are a few easy ways you can help:

1. Verify before responding. If you get a message from a priest, parish staff member, or Catholic speaker asking for money or personal information, don’t reply. Instead, reach out directly through a trusted source: call the parish office using the number listed in the bulletin or on the official website, or speak to the person in real life if you can.

2. Learn the red flags. Scammers rely on pressure, confusion, and emotional manipulation. Be cautious if a message feels rushed, overly dramatic, or “off” in tone. Big red flags often include:

• Requests for unusual forms of payment (gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers)
• Messages with poor grammar, strange phrasing, or odd email addresses
• Appeals that bypass normal channels (i.e, “I’m traveling, please don’t call; just send it here . . .”)

3. Have real conversations. Older adults are often targeted and may be less familiar with how these scams work. Don’t make it a lecture. Instead, bring it up naturally. Share this article or your own experience. Help them know what to look for, and make sure they know they can ask you if something seems off.

4. Report suspicious activity, even if you didn’t fall for it. Reporting helps prevent others from getting scammed! You can file a report with:

• The FBI: www.ic3.gov 
• The FTC: www.reportfraud.ftc.gov 
• Social media platforms: Use the “report” feature on fake accounts or suspicious messages

A good rule of thumb? If something feels off, it probably is. Pause, verify, and report.

Bl. Carlo Acutis, pray for us!

Want to Go Deeper? Listen to A Resounding Yes!

If this topic hit home or opened your eyes, don’t miss today’s podcast episode of A Resounding Yes!, where we sit down with the experts leading the charge against faith-based scams. Listen on Spotify here and Apple Podcasts here.

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With over eight years of experience and a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing, Marge Hynes is a dynamic writer whose portfolio spans SEO-driven copywriting, journalism, and marketing—a versatile skill set that allows her to craft compelling content for Paloma & Fig’s projects.

Marge’s Catholic faith serves as the cornerstone of her work. She approaches storytelling with thoughtfulness and a deep appreciation for the Lord’s own creative power. Her love of the written word shines through in every project, helping clients articulate their message with clarity, heart, and purpose.

When she’s not writing, Marge can be found leading praise and worship, diving into theological books, or exploring the great outdoors with her loyal dog, Augustine (Auggie for short).