Email & Text Message Scam Alert

Dear Members of the Parish of the Valley,

We have received six separate reports this evening of parishioners receiving emails, text messages and/or Facebook messages from an individual claiming to be Rev. Gillian who is asking people to write back to them right away to, "Help her out with a special favour." Please do not respond to these or similar emails or text messages. They unfortunately are from a scammer and not from Rev. Gillian.

From time to time scammers target local clergy, trying to take advantage of the trusting relationships that clergy build throughout the course of our parish ministries to defraud unsuspecting victims. In the past similar messages have been reported with scammers trying to impersonate Bishop Michael and Rev. Matthew. Tonight it would seem that Rev. Gillian is the target.

Please remember that members of our parish clergy team will never reach out to you via email or through a text message to ask you to share personal information, to request a favour, or to request financial assistance (including things like gift cards). If you are ever in doubt please telephone and speak with the members of our clergy team using the telephone numbers listed here on our parish website. Likewise, please always double check the email address that you are receiving a message from. The parish clergy team will always communicate with you using our "name@valleyanglicans.ca" email addresses. 

We are very grateful as a team to the six individuals who have reached out to us this evening to alert us to this nefarious activity. Thank you for remaining vigilant tonight and in the days ahead and continuing to exercise caution. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to any member of the team using the contact information noted above.

Yours faithfully in Christ,

Matthew+

The Rev. Matthew Brown, Incumbent