The Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota

Here are a few friendly reminders. We recently received such a call and a few emails.
The following are some suggestions and reminders from our bank.

Scammers might call or text you, claiming to be from the Diocese or one of our churches. Your caller ID might even display our number. But here's what to know: If the person starts asking for personal information, it's a scam. No matter what. Keep reading to learn how spot “phone number spoofing” and avoid being scammed.

 What is phone number spoofing?

Phone spoofing happens when a scammer tricks your phone's caller ID into showing an official phone number. The fraudster will call or text, pretending to be someone from the Diocese, be it the Bishop or a clergy person and try to trick you into giving out personal information.

To make things even trickier, the impostor might sound convincing and use the name of a person who really works at the Diocese. They might know some partial information you thought was private, like your email address or claim to be attending a church in your area (which are more common). Don't fall for it.

 How to tell if a phone number is spoofed:

To catch call spoofing, it's most important to think about the information the caller is asking for. Remember these things:

 1. The Diocese will not call and we will never call you unprompted and ask for financial assistance. You should never share your personal information.

2. Don't trust caller ID. Scammers can make it look like they're calling from anywhere,

 3. Not sure? Hang up. If you are suspicious, verify the call by hanging up and contacting us directly.