In recent news, it has come to light that scammers are using the impersonation of the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, to commit fraud against unsuspecting churches.

According to reports, the scammers have been contacting the Diocese of York via email and phone, claiming to be the Archbishop of York and asking for donations or financial assistance. The scammers have even gone so far as to use fake email addresses and phone numbers that appear to be legitimate, making it difficult for churches to spot the fraud. The scammers had gone about asking for help with vague requests with the intent to deceive the recipient into conversation, after which they ask them to purchase vouchers and send the code numbers, resulting in loss of their funds.

In a statement, Shepard tells Premier Christian Radio, “Whenever it rears its head, we re-issue the advice that we put out yesterday. And the solution that we advocate is to say to church leaders, especially local church leaders, actually to make it quite clear to their church members, ‘I will never ask you to spend your own money by email.”

The Archbishop of York has since released a statement condemning the actions of the scammers and urging churches to be vigilant in verifying the authenticity of any requests for donations or financial assistance. The police have also been alerted to the scam and are investigating the matter. In the meantime, churches are being advised to take extra precautions when receiving emails or phone calls from individuals claiming to be the Archbishop of York, and to verify the authenticity of any such requests before sending any money.

This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the importance of being vigilant against scams and frauds, particularly in the age of technology and digital communication. As always, it is important to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of any requests for financial assistance, no matter how convincing they may appear to be.