SILVIS, Ill. — A Silvis pastor is speaking out after someone tried to impersonate him to get gift cards from his congregation ahead of the holidays.
First Baptist Church Associate Pastor Alex Turkmani says on Dec. 9. a member of his congregation received a text message using his name, asking "to text about something very private."
"And then the person went on to say that I was planning a little Christmas gift for some of the staff here at the church," said Turkmani. "And if they wanted to participate in it, they could buy some gift cards to give to that staff."
Turkmani says he didn't know this was going on until he received a message from a congregation member who responded to a scam text message believing it to have actually come from him.
"So, I text her back, and say that's not me. I said, 'don't respond to it. If there's any links or anything, don't follow those links.' And then I went on to text her and say, 'I wonder if other people are getting texts.'"
And he found out they were when he received several more text messages asking if this was really him. That's when he had a church-wide email sent out telling people not to respond to any unknown numbers and to not click on any links.
Turkmani says he later found out that he was under a social engineering attack. That's when a person or a group attempts to impersonate someone with influence in a community to get money or information.
He went to the police and they told him to block the number and don't respond to any further messages.
"They say this is a pretty common scam," Turkmani said. "That this is run to try to get people to send gift cards- Visa gift cards to get money from them, which is untraceable."
He said he practices safe internet habits and doesn't know how his contact list managed to get out, but he's now trying to warn other people about possible scams.
"It's frustrating it makes you a little angry and but ultimately, we're just trying to get the word out so no one gets scammed and [they] can use their generous hearts to bless other people."
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