Spot and Avoid Impersonation Attempts

To avoid falling for scams where someone pretends to be Fr. Greg or anyone else, always verify unexpected requests for money, gift cards, phone calls or sensitive information. Contact the pastor or church office directly using a trusted, pre-existing phone number, or use the official phone numbers and email addresses on the website, stignatiussf.org. Never reply to the suspicious message directly. 

Verify the Sender's Address Closely

• Ignore display names: Scammers can easily change the display name of an email or text to say "Pastor [Name]." Always look at the actual email address. A spoofed email often uses a generic domain (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) instead of an official church domain. Our individual email addresses end with usfca.edu and group emails (such as the newsletter) end with stignatiussf.org. 
• Confirm the number: If they are texting, look at the number. Is it the pastor's actual personal cell phone you have saved, or a random number?

Know Your Pastor’s Habits

• Unusual requests: Pastors and church staff almost never ask for money transfers, digital gift cards, or emergency favors via email or text.
• Vague but urgent tone: Scammers rely on creating a false sense of urgency, for example claiming to be "in a meeting right now" and needing you to buy gift cards as a favor.
• Generic greetings: Impersonation emails often start with a generic "Dear member" or "Hi there," rather than using your exact first name.

Take Action

• Do not click links: Never click links, download attachments, or reply to the suspicious message.
• Call the church directly: If an email seems off, pick up the phone and call the church office using the number found on our parish’s official website.
• Report the scam: Inform church leadership so they can warn other members of the spoofing attempt. You can also report phishing and spoofing to the FBI or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) if text messages are involved.