The Good News: Weekly Devotion 2/27/25
Lies, Scams, and Fraud
A church member recently received an email they thought was from me:
“Hi, is your schedule somewhat flexible? I have a request for you to help me manage. I’ll await your response… Blessings, Reverend Zack Martin”
A few months ago, another member sent me a similar email:
“Do you have a moment I have a request I need you to handle discreetly. I am currently busy in a prayer session, no calls so just reply to my email… Blessings, Rev. Zack Martin”
These kind members responded and went down the rabbit hole of lies, scam, and fraud. Thankfully, they didn’t lose any money. Just some of their time and angry emotional energy. These members realized that Pastor Zack probably doesn’t ask for money on the down-low. The second member questioned my “busy prayer session”. He joked with me about how busy my prayer session could be if I couldn’t take a break, get off my knees, and contact him directly.
The scammer replied to our members, “GREAT! Here’s what i want you to do for me because i’m a little busy right now. I have been working on incentives and i aimed at surprising some of our diligent staffs with gift cards this week. This should be Confidential until they all have the gift cards as its a surprise and you will keep one for yourself too. Can you get this done? and how soon?
The bad grammar and strange request for confidentiality raised red flags. We were able to head off any money lost. These emails are called “phishing” scams. Phishing is when thieves send emails or texts purporting to be from reputable companies or individuals to trick people into revealing personal information or con them out money. It happens every day.
Some common ones I received lately are FedEx and Amazon refund notifications—lies. How about the foreign lottery email—scam. A penniless missionary trapped in a foreign country without a passport fundraising request—fraud. Another popular one is a phone call about the Federal Government freezing your Social Security number or the IRS arrest warrant on you that you must clear up now. Sadly, these scams must net some money because they have been around for years. It is a lost cost, easy way to commit fraud in our world.
Jesus says “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”(Luke 12:15)
Perhaps a good way to filter the phishermen is to remember that when people ask you to keep secrets, especially about money, there has to be a high level of integrity attached to it. Be careful of those who “phish” for your money and possessions. There are more and more kinds of greed today in the world, be on guard.
Peace,
Zack@madisonfumc.com
