Anybody can be a target of an online scam.
Churches everywhere, including Holy Name Parish, are easy marks for scammers.
Note: If your phone number or email address are posted in the parish bulletin or website, you may be at higher risk to receive a fake email or text.
Father Joy will NEVER send an email or text asking for money or gift cards.
Check the email address
- A scam email has a fake email address (possibly some other victim’s real email address).
- Father Joy’s ONLY email address is Joy.VadakkanPouloseCFIC@caedm.ca
- See the other valid parish email addresses on the Contact page.
Do not trust Caller ID
- A scam text or phone call probably has a fake phone number.
- It’s easy to fake a phone number or caller ID in a text or phone call.
Always verify
- It’s not rude. It’s reassuring to ask, “Did you just text me asking for a special favour?”.
- DO NOT automatically click a callback link or “call back” on your phone. You may be connecting to a scammer.
Call, text or email from your contacts or from the parish website, or dial the number manually. - Or call the parish office.
- Or ask Father Joy in person after mass!
NEVER send money, gift cards, or game cards at anybody’s request
- See the parish website Donate page for the only legitimate ways to donate money to the parish.
Catholic Parish of the Holy Name
