HAITI: Scammers continue to solicit donations fraudulently
By Mary Frances Schjonberg, February 12, 2010
[Episcopal News Service] For the second time in the month since a magnitude-7 earthquake decimated parts of Haiti on Jan. 12, evidence has surfaced of fraudulent emails soliciting money in the name of Episcopal Diocese of Haiti Bishop Jean Zaché Duracin.
The Rev. Lauren Stanley, an Episcopal Church-appointed missionary to Haiti and Duracin's liaison in the U.S., told ENS Feb. 12 that she learned of the latest scam from the Rev. Chris Dobson, ecumenical and global partnership officer for the Church of England's Diocese of Bristol. He reported receiving an e-mail that he suspected was not from Duracin because it listed a slightly different e-mail address than the one Dobson understood to be correct....
As most people who use e-mail know, fraudulent solicitations for money abound. Also on Feb. 12, the Rev. Pedaculi Birakengana, provincial secretary of the Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi, and Rosemary Cottingham of the provincial communications office warned of e-mail purporting to be from Diocese of Buye Bishop Sixbert Macumi and Diocese of Muyinga Bishop Eraste Bigirimana.
The e-mails have errors in the addresses and text, the provincial officials said, and claim to be arranging care for Macumi's supposedly sick wife. They request between $2,800 and $3,950 to cover medical fees in Burundi or Uganda.
-- The Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg is national correspondent for the Episcopal News Service and Episcopal News Monthly editor.
The full article may be read here: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_119415_ENG_HTM.htm
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