Church Scams

Church scams trap well-meaning believers and cost victims millions of dollars every year—so much so that one state has labeled a particular variation of this crime its number one scam.

Religious affinity fraud also remains a widespread issue. Scammers who exploit people based on shared religious beliefs come from all backgrounds and target members of their own faith communities.

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Some elderly investors were deceived into purchasing fake promissory notes by three men—two insurance agents and an investment advisor—who would often kneel and pray with their victims to gain their trust.

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We have also compiled a list of reliable online scam-fighting agencies to help you stay informed about both current and past church-related scams and their variations.

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Scams carried out in the name of religion are not new. They are among the many deceptive techniques scammers use to swindle money from innocent people. One such method is the church scam, where scammers exploit individuals' trust and belief in God to steal large sums of money under religious pretenses.

The faith, trust, and devotion that people place in religion and places of worship have unfortunately opened the door for scammers to carry out deceptive schemes. The most common religious scam is the church scam, which occurs when a group of believers—often from the same religious community or place of worship—is manipulated into donating large sums of money. This is typically done under the false pretense of religious duty or a fraudulent investment plan presented as being affiliated with a church, temple, or mosque.

Any scam conducted in the name of religion—whether at a temple, church, mosque, or among members of a congregation—is broadly classified as a church scam.

In one of the largest nationwide religious scams, churchgoers reportedly lost more than $50 million in a fraudulent gold bullion scheme. The scam was promoted within prayer halls, promising huge returns to believers.

Religious scams target members of churches, congregations, temples, or mosques, deceiving them and stealing money under the guise of faith and devotion.

The most common form of church scam is the Nigerian church scam, also widely known as the Nigerian letter scam. In this type of fraud, Nigerian scammers approach members of churches, claiming they need assistance in transferring inheritance money from one bank to another. They often cite complications with wire transfers as the reason for needing help. To build trust, these scammers present themselves as pastors or religious leaders from well-known churches and send letters—often referred to as "Nigerian letters"—to church members. These letters typically appear convincing and legitimate to the average person, making them particularly deceptive. With the rise in Nigerian church scams, individuals must be extremely cautious when responding to such communications.

The Nigerian church scam is a form of fraud in which scammers, posing as representatives of Nigerian churches or religious organizations, fabricate emotional or religious appeals to extract money or personal information. These scams often come in the form of emails or letters, promising financial assistance, inheritance, or charitable donations tied to a supposed religious cause. The scammers request upfront fees or sensitive personal details under the pretense of helping the victim or facilitating the release of funds. In reality, there are no funds—just an elaborate con designed to exploit the victim’s trust and generosity. To avoid falling victim to such scams, individuals should be wary of unsolicited communications, verify the authenticity of the organizations or individuals involved, and never send money or share personal information with unknown sources.

 

Another form of church scam occurs when scammers approach churches with offers of expensive equipment leases, making them sign agreements that appear to be free or of no financial obligation. However, in the end, the churches are left with hundreds or even thousands of dollars in debt after being tied into costly lease contracts for equipment they believed was provided at no cost. These churches often find themselves entangled in legal proceedings to settle the unexpected debts. Scammers leave no opportunity untouched when it comes to exploiting religious organizations for financial gain.

Affinity church scam is another commonly used tactic by church scam artists. The term affinity refers to a shared understanding, interest, or belief. In this scam, fraudsters pretend to share the same religious values as members of a church or other religious organization. They often use religious slogans, claims of divine guidance, or spiritual alignment to gain trust, then convince victims to invest in fraudulent schemes that offer no real return. Common examples include Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, and other investment scams. The affinity church scam became particularly well-known after it was reported in Arizona in 2009.

Scams like the affinity church scam can take many forms, and new variations may emerge over time. Scammers frequently adapt their strategies, creating fresh schemes under different names or concepts to deceive people. If the term "Affinity Church scam" has gained prominence more recently, it’s important to consult reliable sources—such as law enforcement agencies, consumer protection organizations, or trusted news outlets—for the latest information and alerts.

To stay protected against scams in general, individuals should regularly check for updates from official sources and exercise caution when receiving unsolicited communications or requests for personal or financial information.

 

Church scams often operate at a personal level, involving smaller amounts of money collected from a large number of people. Scammers infiltrate churches under the guise of religion and faith, attempting to gain the trust of members through seemingly genuine and emotional stories about personal or family hardships. They share tales of tragedy and struggle to evoke sympathy and request financial assistance from church funds, donations, or other sources of support. Once the scammer earns the trust of the congregation and secures the money, they disappear—leaving the church and its members defrauded.

Scammers often introduce schemes claiming that churches and other religious organizations can use equipment for free or at heavily discounted prices through their companies. These offers are commonly advertised through newspapers and pamphlets. The equipment typically includes expensive items such as computers, photocopy machines, and other technological devices that are often unaffordable for religious organizations. However, scammers embed hidden costs in the lease or agreement documents. Churches that unknowingly sign these contracts become legally obligated to pay the hidden charges and, as a result, fall victim to a church scam.

Scammers hijack official church email accounts to send phony messages requesting wire transfers from one account to another.

• The scammer orders equipment and materials in the name of the church, leaving the church congregation responsible for paying large sums.

• A pyramid scheme known as the "gifting scheme," where church members are asked to donate small gifts with the promise of receiving similar or greater gifts in return.

• Door-to-door services carried out by scammers posing as representatives of a church or religious group. These fake church members collect advance payments for meal deliveries, clothing, or other aid for the needy—which never actually arrives.

• Selling products in the name of God that are claimed to offer religious or spiritual benefits to members is another scam technique used by fraudsters.

• Church cults, another form of church scam, operate under the guise of religious faith, recruiting members and convincing them to hand over all their possessions in the name of God.

• Never wire or donate cash in response to any unsolicited letter claiming to be from a church.

• Always read and review the full agreement or lease carefully before entering into any equipment use schemes.

• Churches should always verify their records before acknowledging or accepting claims of association from any individual.

• Do not pay heed to financial schemes in churches from unknown members.

The screenshot below is an example where the Hanover County office alerts users about a common church fraud circulating in local area churches. The report describes a scam involving a fake call from someone claiming to be associated with a church and requesting money.

The screenshot below is an example of a church scam involving the bishop and elder members of the church, who were reportedly caught in a million-dollar land scam.

Below is another example of a church scam in Los Angeles, where a church pastor was sentenced to 180 months in prison for orchestrating a $14.2 million Medicare fraud scheme.

The image below is an excerpt from the "Women Thou Art Loosed Cash" scheme, operated by a bishop scammer, through which millions of people are being scammed year after year.

Another scammer, Bishop E. Bernard Jordan, circulated a begging letter on PimpPreacher.com. He scammed many within church circles by selling what he called "miracle soaps." Church members paid $300 per bar to the bishop, believing the soap possessed miraculous powers. According to the scammer, the soap was designed to cleanse the spirit and soul of anyone who used it.

The screenshot below is another example of a church scam, where church members were asked to donate funds to finance the credit union of a well-known church. The scammers behind this scheme successfully defrauded innocent individuals for 48 months. They promoted the scheme under the guise of community banking as a wealth-building tool for the Body of Christ.

In this well-known church scam, members were persuaded to transfer all or part of their wealth to the church, believing that God would miraculously double their donations. This scam, widely referred to as the Wealth Transfer Scam, is fully documented on YouTube. The pastor of the church used forceful interpretations of scripture to convince church members and the congregation that this was a divine calling and that they were specially chosen to participate in the transfer of wealth.

The following is an example of a church scam in which the pastor convinced members of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church to invest in what turned out to be illegal gambling operations. Church members and followers entrusted him with their money each time he visited, expecting profitable returns. The pastor falsely guaranteed significant earnings, exploiting the trust of the congregation for personal gain.