Fraudulent E-mail Alert
A series of recent e-mails sent under Catholic Charities' name soliciting personal information from recipients is fraudulent. These e-mail solicitations are not connected with, nor approved by, Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis or Catholic Charities USA.
The fraudulent e-mails come in several forms, including one announcing recipients have received a grant. These e-mails are designed to ultimately solicit personal, financial and banking information from the recipients. Examples of the fraudulent e-mail can be found below.
Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Catholic Charities USA do not send unsolicited e-mails requesting this type of information. Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis sends e-mail to people only with recipients’ approval. Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis never asks contributors to provide personal information via e-mail.
Contributions made to Catholic Charities through this web site are secure. Questions regarding the fraudulent e-mails can be directed to Becky Lentz, Catholic Charities Director of Communications, at 612.664.8556.
Catholic Charities annually meets the needs of more than 50,000 people, regardless of faith. The agency’s 42 programs provide services ranging from prenatal care to in-home care for the elderly in 12 counties in and around the Twin Cities. Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis is a member of Catholic Charities USA and was honored by the Charities Review Council for meeting the Council's strict accountability standards, demonstrating responsibility, integrity and transparency as a non-profit organization. Further information on that approval can be found at www.smartgivers.org. Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation.
Examples of the Fraudulent E-mail
Please note details in the e-mails that are circulating may be slightly different. Two examples of such e-mails are below.
EXAMPLE 1
Dear Benefactor of 2007 Grant Award,
You are lucky to have been selected among the 4 benefactors of $2.5 million dollars to be awarded each by The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese in Rome. For further inquiry, in order to claim your grant, contact the Cash Grant Program Coordinator secretary.
Honorable Richard Bates
Secretary and Treasurer
Cash Grant Program Coordinator
Email: catholic_charitygrant1@hotmail.com
Rev. John C. Gerspach,
Assistant Secretary
EXAMPLE 2
Dear Benefactor Of 2007 Grant Award,
You are lucky to have been selected among the 4 benefactors of $2.5 million dollars to be awarded each by The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese in Rome. For further inquiry, In order to claim your grant, contact the Cash Grant Program Coordinator secretary.
Honorable Richard Bates
Secretary and Treasurer
Cash Grant Program Coordinator
Email:catholiccharitygrantbenefactors@hotmail.com
Honorable Richard Bates
Secretary and Treasurer
Cash Grant Program Coordinator
VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM
1.FULL NAMES:
2.ADDRESS:
3.SEX:
4.AGE:
5.MARITAL STATUS:
6.OCCUPATION:
7.E-MAIL ADDRESS:
8.TELEPHONE NUMBER:
9.CITY:
14. STATE:
15. COUNTRY
John C.Gerspach,
Assistant Secretary
WORKING HOURS/DAYS - 24HOURS DAILY DUE TO INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS Confidential: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
This communication represents the originator's personal views and opinions, which do not necessarily reflect those of the CATHOLIC CHARITIES FOUNDATION If you are not the original recipient or the person responsible for delivering the email to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this email in error, and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you received this email in error, please immediately notify csdesk@catholiccharities.net
(end of e-mail examples)
