The God Scam: A Faith-based Conspiracy or Just a Holy Prank?
Last year, I warned you about Eclipse Earn, a cryptocurrency scam that used professional websites and fake celebrity endorsements to lure unsuspecting victims. Unfortunately, this scam hasn’t disappeared—it continues to operate under various new names, deceiving more investors. These fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated, and it’s crucial to stay aware of such schemes. Today, I want to bring your attention to a different type of fraud that’s beginning to emerge. I’m calling it “The God Scam.” This new scam is especially alarming because it targets people’s goodwill and faith. The perpetrators are impersonating respected religious leaders and heads of well-known charities here on the island to deceive generous donors. It’s a scam that thrives on the trust and compassion of individuals, making it even more dangerous. In a culture where charity is deeply ingrained, these scammers know they can exploit people’s kindness for their own financial gain.
It’s concerning because charity is a deeply rooted part of life for many people, especially in Sri Lanka, where faith and generosity play a significant role in daily living. Many Sri Lankans, who are predominantly religious, don’t hesitate to donate to causes that seem trustworthy. Unfortunately, scammers are capitalizing on this environment, knowing that people are more likely to respond without question. However, I must admit that I’m unsure if this is a full-blown scam or simply a prank gone too far. It could be a faith-based conspiracy, or perhaps just an elaborate hoax targeting the very essence of kindness. Nevertheless, I felt it was necessary to share my concerns with you. This situation has raised enough red flags to warrant further investigation. I encourage you to keep reading, evaluate the situation, and decide for yourself whether it’s something to be wary of.
The Email Messages
On March 18, 2025, at 5:11 PM, my smartphone chimed, indicating the arrival of a new email from the head of the non-profit organization I worked for seven years before leaving in April 2024. I was taken aback because, despite our past interactions, he never uses his designation before his name. However, this email included his title next to his name. The message itself was simple: “Blessing to you! May I kindly request a moment of your time?” I found it odd. My former boss always calls me directly, no matter the time of day, so there was no reason for him to ask permission for my time via email. It struck me as strange, and I began to feel uneasy. Then, I noticed something even more alarming—the email had arrived at one of my private addresses, one he never knew I had.
Out of curiosity, I checked the actual email address, and my suspicions grew. The sender’s email was simply [email protected]. While I’m aware that my former boss uses a regular Gmail account to communicate with family and friends, he has always used the email address provided by the non-profit organization for any official communication with me. The non-profit’s email is linked to their domain name, not a standard Gmail account. It quickly dawned on me: someone was impersonating my former boss, using the name of the non-profit to set up a scam. This wasn’t just a harmless mistake—it was a deliberate attempt to exploit their reputation. I still don’t understand why I was specifically targeted, but I do know one thing for sure: both my former boss and the non-profit are well known globally, making them prime bait for scammers hoping to take advantage of unsuspecting people.
The Bank Account
At first, I ignored the email, thinking it was probably just a mistake. However, my curiosity got the better of me, and I began to consider confronting the sender. Instead of reacting in anger, I decided to have a little fun with it. On March 21, 2025, at 1:35 AM, I replied with a simple “Yes. Sure.” The scammer responded the next day, on March 22, 2025, at 11:07 PM. His message was a mix of formal and informal language, reading, “Thank you for your quick response, i have been busy with the church and didn’t see your message early…i would like to ask for your help in donation to church, the church need about 193408.27 Rupee. and i would like to know how much you can help with ? Thank you, God bless you abundantly.” The tone and poor writing style made it clear that this scammer was likely an amateur, just starting out with his first attempt at fraud.
Despite the unprofessional tone, I played along. I responded at 12:09 AM the following day, expressing my willingness to make a generous contribution of 200,000 rupees and requesting the details of the bank account for the donation. The scammer sent the bank account information promptly. It was for a personal savings account at Sampath Bank in Kegalle, under the name B L N P Devi Perera, with the account number 106456005350. The fact that the account was a personal savings account, not a charity’s account, further confirmed my suspicion that this was, indeed, a scam. The unprofessional nature of the email and the use of a personal account made it obvious that this person was attempting to deceive unsuspecting donors. Still, I couldn’t help but continue the exchange, keen to see where this scammer would go next.
The Contact Details
Fast forward to the moment of writing this article (March 24, 2025, 1:06 PM). By now, I have exchanged several emails with the scammer and am currently in the process of trying to scam him into revealing any contact number he might be using. Although I am unsure whether I will succeed in obtaining this information, the details I’ve gathered so far are enough for me to file a formal complaint with the Sri Lanka Police, specifically the Cyber Crime Division. It feels empowering to turn the tables, even if the outcome is uncertain. My goal is to gather as much evidence as possible, and I’m carefully documenting every interaction to ensure I have a solid case if needed. I’m also cautious not to reveal too much about my own personal information, as I know scammers often try to exploit anything they can.
In the meantime, I decided to point out to the scammer that the bank account details he provided were for a personal account. His response was, “That’s the details account of our accountant, and it’s what we always use to receive money for now. Glory be to the Lord for letting them grant you a loan. We will continue praying for you and your family.” This response only added to my suspicions, as it seemed like an attempt to justify the use of a personal account for what was supposed to be a charitable donation. The unprofessional nature of the response further confirmed that this scammer might be operating with little experience or care. Nevertheless, I continued to play along, collecting more information while preparing for the next step in what could soon become a formal investigation.
Wrap Up
The scammer has not contacted me yet, but I will update this article if he does. In the meantime, I have taken the necessary steps to file a formal complaint with the Sri Lanka Police Cyber Crime Division, the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Responsibility Team, and Sampath Bank PLC. Furthermore, I plan to reach out to the scammer’s mobile phone carrier in the event he contacts me. I want to be fully prepared and ensure that the authorities have as much information as possible to investigate this fraudulent activity. I’m making sure to keep a record of every detail and communication with the scammer to support my claims. While the process of tracking down scammers can be slow, it’s important to continue pursuing justice. Stay tuned for any developments, as I will provide updates. By the way, below is a screenshot of my email communications with the scammer up to this point.
In the meantime, I want to share some helpful advice to ensure you don’t fall victim to similar scams. Always take the time to verify the sender of important emails, SMS messages, and WhatsApp communications, particularly when they involve money, donations, or sensitive information. Be cautious of personal bank accounts being used to collect funds that are claimed to be for charitable purposes. Never send money to individuals unless you are certain of their identity and the legitimacy of the cause. These faith-based scams are becoming increasingly common, and scammers are targeting well-meaning people who trust religious leaders and organizations. It’s essential to stay vigilant and skeptical, even when the request seems to come from someone you know or admire. As a matter of fact, at 11:50 AM today, Swarnavahini reported a similar scam being carried out by an unknown party (Full Story). Protect yourself by being cautious.
If you found this content helpful, I kindly ask you to leave your feedback in the comments section below. Sharing it on social media would also be greatly appreciated. In order to promote meaningful and respectful dialogue, I request that you use your full name when commenting. Please note that any comments containing profanity, name-calling, or a disrespectful tone will be deleted. Thank you for your understanding and participation.
In “Microsoft Office 365 Lifetime Subscription?” I warned against paying for the so-called Microsoft Office 365 lifetime subscriptions. Today I CONTINUE READING
I admit that my user experience with macOS and the MacBook Air is far superior compared to Windows as well CONTINUE READING