A Texas community volunteer lost approximately $24,000 after responding to a message she believed came from her pastor and buying gift cards supposedly intended for church volunteers. The person impersonating him sent her a $38,000 reimbursement check that turned out to be fraudulent.
Kathy Adamo told KBTX she believed she was helping Father David Michael. “I thought I was helping my pastor and I would do anything for him,” she said.
Adamo volunteers with a local food bank, the Lions Club, the Red Cross and her church in Grimes County. According to the station, the request arrived by email and described a project to distribute gift cards to people helping the church.
She deposited the supposed reimbursement at a Wells Fargo branch. Adamo said the bank contacted her a few hours later to tell her the check was fake. Family and friends have since organized a fundraiser to help her recover financially.
The Request for Card Photos Made Her Hesitate
The purchases began with $100 gift cards before the requests increased to $500 cards. Adamo was instructed to photograph the front and back of each one and email the images to the person she believed was her pastor.
That instruction made her hesitate. When she gave someone a gift card, she normally handed over the physical card along with its receipt. This time, she reasoned that people had different ways of doing things and continued sending the photographs.
The Federal Trade Commission’s guidance explains that a card number and PIN can give a scammer access to the loaded balance while the purchaser still holds the card. Sending a photograph that exposes those details can therefore let someone spend the money without collecting or receiving the card itself.
The Scammer Offered Money for Her Personal Bills
The check was presented as repayment for the purchases Adamo had already made. The impersonator also offered additional money to help cover her own bills, telling her she could benefit personally from the supposed reimbursement.
In its guidance on fake checks, the FTC warns that a deposit appearing in an account does not establish that the check is legitimate. Banks must make deposited funds available quickly, while identifying a fraudulent check can take weeks.
Some fake checks carry the names and addresses of real financial institutions. Others are drawn on accounts belonging to people whose identities have been stolen. Their appearance can deceive bank employees as well as the person receiving the payment, the agency says.
If someone spends or forwards money from a fake check, they can be left owing that money to the bank when the deposit is reversed. The FTC advises against using a check from someone unfamiliar to buy gift cards, send cryptocurrency or wire money at that person’s request.
A Friend Recognized the Scam, and Others Organized Help
Adamo also sought advice from the wife of Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell. Her friend immediately identified the request as a scam. Adamo initially resisted that explanation because she believed she had been communicating with Father David Michael.
Sowell encouraged residents to seek advice before handing over money. “When in doubt, call someone you trust,” he told KBTX, suggesting a sheriff, constable, state trooper or another law enforcement officer they know.
Adamo said speaking publicly was difficult, but she hoped her account would prevent someone else from losing money. She described feeling distressed when looking at the gift cards she had purchased.
The GoFundMe campaign linked by KBTX was organized by Joan Pushee. On the fundraiser page, Pushee describes Adamo’s work with the Grimes County St. Vincent de Paul Society.
According to Pushee, Adamo uses a walker to move groceries between the pantry, her car and the people receiving the deliveries. She also bakes for fundraisers, youth groups and birthdays. Pushee says donations will help replace the money lost and ease the financial strain.
Clergy Impersonators Use Real Names and Believable Email Addresses
The FTC has specifically warned about clergy impersonation. Fraudsters pose as pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and other religious leaders, asking congregation members to contribute gift cards for a worthy cause.
The agency says these messages may contain a real religious leader’s name and an email address that looks legitimate. A closer inspection may reveal an address different from the one the church normally uses, an unfamiliar email provider or spelling mistakes. Requests can also arrive through texts or phone calls.
Before making a purchase, contact the pastor or church office through a number you already know or independently obtain. Ask whether the specific request is genuine. Replying to the suspicious message leaves the same person in control of the conversation; a familiar display name alone does not verify who sent it.
What to Do After Sending Gift Card Information
Contact the gift card company immediately and explain that the card was used in a scam. Ask whether the funds can be recovered and request a refund. The FTC recommends reporting even if time has passed, because some companies may still be able to help.
Keep the cards and store receipts. These records can help the issuer identify the purchases and process a claim. Use contact information printed on the card or supplied through the company’s official website, and tell the store where you bought it about the fraud.
If you also deposited a suspicious check, contact your bank before spending or transferring any of the money. Explain how you received it and what the sender asked you to do. A promise of reimbursement should not prompt another payment while the bank examines the deposit.
Gift card and fake-check scams can also be reported through ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC provides reporting contacts for major gift card companies, including options for asking some issuers to freeze money that remains on a card.