Scammers pose as church representatives

| 17/03/2016 | 33 Comments

Cayman News Service(CNS): At least two con artists are out and about in the community scamming people for cash, posing as representatives of local churches collecting donations for charity, police have warned. Reports have been made regarding fraudulent solicitations for churches in both George Town and West Bay in recent weeks and police are investigating the allegations.  On February 29, police received a complaint about a man canvassing the neighborhood door-to-door in the capital asking for money on behalf of Calvary Baptist Church on Walker’s Road. 

However, the church has confirmed that the man, described as having a light complexion, slim build and around 5’10”, does not represent them.

A second suspect, described as being of medium-brown complexion, early 20’s, well-spoken, clean-cut and well-dressed, was seen in the Coral Gable area of West Bay at the end of February soliciting donations on behalf of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

A man fitting the description of the George Town suspect was also seen in West Bay at the same time, police said, adding that they have also been recently notified about other similar incidents this month involving individuals answering the same descriptions.

The police are therefore urging members of the public to exercise caution when giving donations to charity, especially when being solicited for cash donations by people going door-to-door.”

Anyone witnessing suspicious behavior of the type described above is asked to report it immediately to George Town Police Station at 949-4222 (or 525-4529 if reporting on 17 March), the West Bay Police Station at 949-3999 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS).

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Comments (33)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I don’t give anyone who knocks on my door anything. I donate through proper charities only. Anyone knocking on your door at night is probably a con artist, church or not.

  2. Anonymous says:

    I’m confused. There is a difference between a “scammer” church representative and a legitimate church representative?

    Pop quiz, is the following request from a fraudulent or honest church representative?

    “Give me ten percent of your income and you will get a great reward–after you die. I promise.”

  3. Anonymous says:

    I would just like to take a second to express my love and faith for my fellow brothers and children of God. Through him all things are possible, you just need to donate some money to us and we will ensure that God saves a seat for you in heaven. Hurry people, the faster you give your money and the more of it will allow the Lord to work through the currency and into your heart for eternity. Remember only though him can you reach to heaven, and don’t forget the money.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Just ask them to pose for a photograph.

  5. The Turtle says:

    How do we know he’s a scammed, most of the Bible bashers that knock on my door on a Saturday and Sunday morning doing the same!!!
    If someone wants to give their money in the name of God let this kid do the same. Maybe he prays for these people at home after he gets their money, maybe he goes to church on Sunday and give 10% to the church.

    At least he’s not breaking in to our homes and stealing all my money, TVS and computer.

    Love it

  6. Anonymous says:

    If you are looking for a gullible demographic Christians look a good fit given that they seem capable of believing anything with all the mythology they treat as factual history.

  7. Anonymous says:

    It is easy to dupe people who are so stupid they do not believe in evolution or the Big Bang.

  8. Anonymous says:

    This not news. People claiming to represent God been scamming people since time immemorial.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Aren’t all church representatives scammers???

  10. Cheese Face says:

    I would never give any money to the church anyway so I should be okay on this one.

  11. Anonymous says:

    “A second suspect, described as being of medium-brown complexion, early 20’s, well-spoken, clean-cut and well-dressed…”

    This is crazy, someone fitting this description came to my house about a month back. Although I thought it was unusual, I donated (it’s just the kind of person I am). He was extremely well spoken but also a little nervous. He’s Caymanian for sure, I remember seeing him around as a little boy. It shouldn’t be hard to find these people. Sad situation…

    • Anonymous says:

      That’s the problem with most of us Caymanians tho, once the individual is light skin,well spoken, well groomed and not suspicious then everything’s good to go……..weez ga all learn some lessons thru these tough times, thank God.

      • Anonymous says:

        Yea right, dark skinned pastors are never given the peoples trust, or at least that is what a hideous dark skinned racists would say to cover his tracks as racism toward whites is the newest scam out there.

    • Anonymous says:

      Same guy came to my house in Savannah last week. No wonder he was so nervous!!! Lol. Yes I gave him money. I always support causes in Cayman.

      • Anonymous says:

        I am a victim as well also residing in Savannah. It is sad that the legitimate ones have to suffer for the scammers. I am always happy to support a worthy cause especially for the youth. Sad that people perpetrate such acts!

  12. Anonymous says:

    boycott all church fundraising/raffles…..

  13. Anonymous says:

    Is this anything like the under-performing close-knit pious management who steal the salaries of those atheist by ignoring their constant over-performance.

    Every dog(ma) has its day(century), but this is getting ridiculous.

  14. Anonymous says:

    The whole “God”, “Heaven”, “give us 10%” gig is the biggest scam of them all.

  15. Anonymous says:

    I suppose it only fair, for years I have been mistaking church representatives for scammers.

  16. Anonymous says:

    Logically all churches are pyramid schemes. Those two aren’t doing anything different from what “regular” pastor’s do. JUST SAYING.

  17. Disillusioned says:

    Ridiculous! Begging is not news, and that’s what this is, under one of many guises. investigating it is a waste of valuable RCIPS resources. If people don’t have the sense to send such beggars away empty handed, more fool them. Are RCIPS going to apprehend the many poor people who approach me on a regular basis in car parks, supermarkets and on the street, pleading hunger, illness, dying relatives etc and asking me for money? This happens to me on a regular basis, and yes I usually do give something as I feel so sorry that some Caymanians are so desperate. They must surely be Caymanians, or they would not be permitted to be here. Cayman has one of the highest GDP’s in the world. Shame on you, Cayman, and on affluent Caymanians, and your elected representatives. Where are the Christian principles you sound off about so much, when your people have to beg for a dollar?

    • Anonymous says:

      This isn’t ‘honest begging’, this is identity theft. Its like the beggar coming up and saying ‘I’m with the salvation army, give me money to give to poor people’. He’s just cutting out the middle man but still stealing their identity and not being honest.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Ironic, being that the churches and religion are the biggest scam to ever plague mankind in the first place.

  19. Just Sayin' says:

    Oh the irony of it all. Churches have been scamming money out of people for hundreds of years.

  20. Anonymous says:

    This last Saturday (March 12th) they solicited from many residents in the South Church Street area in the name of the Seventh Day Adventist Church saying they were collecting for the SDA’s crusades to buy books and toys for kids. They did receive money from quite a few residents. So beware, they are fraudulent as the SDA Church was notified on Monday and said they are fraud, there is no crusade for kids books and toys and there is no one sent out at anytime from the SDA Churches to solicit money from people door to door, they never do that.

    They trick you by being well groomed, well dressed, well spoken, educated, calm and friendly even so as having envelopes and a chart of everyone’s names and $ amounts they have collected. They are very tricky, it’s hard to suspect they are being frauds, they’re real good at fooling you!

    It happened to us also. I want to catch a hold of them and wash their mouths out with soap! Deceitful tongues! The one that came to our door was around 5’10”, slim, medium to dark complexion (depending on how much they have suntans the complexion fluctuates.) I called the SDA Church Monday to verify if they were real or not and was told no way, they are fraud, not anything to do with SDA! They came by Saturday evening when obviously they know you can’t verify with SDA office on Sat evening, but have to wait til Monday morning, so i’m sure their timing is well calculated too as to when they hit up on people’s doors.

    • Anonymous says:

      Same one came to my door I think it was Monday eve. A friend had just left so I thought it was him coming back. Opened the door without looking through the peep hole. I’ll never do that again!
      I told him I wasn’t interested as soon as words came out of his mouth. He was pleasant and well spoken.

      • Island Girl says:

        Two women came knocking on my door dressed in church clothes, but I pretended I don’t understand Spanish so they left. If they come back speaking English I will then pretend I only speak Spanish.

        • Anonymous says:

          They were not scammers, they were my Friday night entertainment dressed up for some role-play. They had the wrong address.

    • Anonymous says:

      While you’re at it, there are some MLA’s that could benefit from your soap treatment.

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