PSA - Heads up for church phone scam alert

[woodsprite]

Just a head's up if you're on a church board or if your name exists visible to the outside world on your church web page...

Several members of our Session received phone calls at their homes this morning (in DE) from a person identified as Scott Koren (caller id and reverse phone lookup). He told them his name was Thomas (mumbled his last name), he had started attending our church recently, was in a bind driving to his mother's funeral in Florida with his family (car trouble). Supposedly he got the names from a church bulletin he had in his car. When my husband didn't sound overly sympathetic or asked too many questions, the guy hung up. His MO is to call rather small churches pastors, trustees, deacons, session members to try to get money out of them. Never a lot - $100-200 mostly.

He also has used the name Jeff Powell in other scams.

For us and our church, it amounted to be a time-waster and annoyance for several of us this morning, but some churches have fallen for it and wired him the money at a Walmart (where his car supposedly broke down). Here are some links re: his scam:

Orlando Sentinel article
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1994-09-10/news/9409100538_1_koren-kissimmee-police-terre-haute

And he's used other phone number (but he's apparently not smart enough to spoof his number)
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-321-848-1313

[cbayer]

1. What a dirtbag.

I hope they catch him. I think having to do community service at the churches he has scammed would be a good punishment.

[bvf]

2. Caveat fidelis.

[stifler]

3. Kind of old scam

I received a call from this Scott Koren several years ago, at 2012 or 2013. However, it seems like he is coming back now. Found some reports filed by some people related to these Scott at http://www.whycall.me/321-848-1313.html. Hopefully no one will fall for his tricks.