Police: Scammers pose as pastors, send texts to ask for donations

Police say scammers are posing as local priests and have been sending out texts to ask for donations.

News 12 Staff

May 24, 2019, 10:48 AM

Updated 1,796 days ago

Share:

Police say scammers are posing as local priests and have been sending out texts to ask for donations.
News 12 is told thousands of dollars has been stolen from parishioners at various parishes across the city, including one in East New York.

The Diocese of Brooklyn says the texts were sent to parishioners and employees. The scammer posed as local pastors and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and asked people to buy gift cards for someone in the hospital.

One of the victims, a congregant at St. Rose of Lima Church in Rockaway Beach, says she realized something was off because of the way the text was written.

Some of the parishes targeted include St. Fortunata in East New York, Incarnation in Queens Village, St. Rose of Lima in Rockaway Beach, St. Helen of Howard Beach, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in South Ozone Park and St. Clare in Rosedale.

Anyone who has received one of the texts or has information is asked to call police.


More from News 12
1:57
3 families displaced by fast-moving fire at North Amityville home

3 families displaced by fast-moving fire at North Amityville home

2:02
Sunny and mild Tuesday before rain returns Wednesday

Sunny and mild Tuesday before rain returns Wednesday

2:53
Sachem schools consider staffing and program cuts, piercing tax cap as budget vote looms

Sachem schools consider staffing and program cuts, piercing tax cap as budget vote looms

DA: Syosset man pleads guilty in DWI crash that killed married couple in Laurel Hollow

DA: Syosset man pleads guilty in DWI crash that killed married couple in Laurel Hollow

0:29
Jericho named Long Island's top rated high school by U.S. News and World Report

Jericho named Long Island's top rated high school by U.S. News and World Report

0:51
NCC working with food truck vendors to provide food for rest of semester

NCC working with food truck vendors to provide food for rest of semester

0:26
USDA warns of ground beef that may be contaminated with E.coli

USDA warns of ground beef that may be contaminated with E.coli

Is your mom awesome? Long Island tell us why your Mom Rocks!

Is your mom awesome? Long Island tell us why your Mom Rocks!

1:42
Made on Long Island: Nicolock Paving Stones in Lindenhurst

Made on Long Island: Nicolock Paving Stones in Lindenhurst

0:48
9 steps to take if your ‘fur-ever’ friend goes missing

9 steps to take if your ‘fur-ever’ friend goes missing

0:51
State police: Trooper struck in the face by combative driver during Southern State Parkway traffic stop

State police: Trooper struck in the face by combative driver during Southern State Parkway traffic stop

1:54
Ronkonkoma woman pleads not guilty to 49 counts of animal cruelty

Ronkonkoma woman pleads not guilty to 49 counts of animal cruelty

1:33
Hampton Bays woman retrieves phone, wallet she accidently dumped into recycling bin nearly 3 weeks ago

Hampton Bays woman retrieves phone, wallet she accidently dumped into recycling bin nearly 3 weeks ago

1:55
Long Islanders taught about dangers of toxic pollutants in drinking water

Long Islanders taught about dangers of toxic pollutants in drinking water

0:16
Police: Long Beach man punched nurse in abdomen at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital

Police: Long Beach man punched nurse in abdomen at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital

1:59
Long Island gets introduced to matzah pizza; proceeds will go toward charities

Long Island gets introduced to matzah pizza; proceeds will go toward charities

0:32
Spartans chosen as new mascot for Brentwood school district

Spartans chosen as new mascot for Brentwood school district

0:19
Police: 2 people hospitalized following Lawrence crash

Police: 2 people hospitalized following Lawrence crash

2:12
Amityville schools to receive $2 million from new state budget to help reduce budget deficit, save jobs

Amityville schools to receive $2 million from new state budget to help reduce budget deficit, save jobs

0:17
Man wanted for stealing $1,000 in merchandise from Centereach store

Man wanted for stealing $1,000 in merchandise from Centereach store