HINGHAM — A local resident narrowly escaped being scammed by a fraudulent email account posing as a Hingham church, according to Hingham Police.
The resident received a series of emails from an individual claiming to be a Hingham priest, requesting the purchase of gift cards under the guise of sending them with email prayers to church staff.
The emails, sent from an address starting with “churchoffice,” instructed the resident to buy six Target gift cards, each valued at $200, and to send back photos of the scratched-off codes.
Before proceeding with the purchase, the resident contacted the real church and spoke with the actual priest, confirming the request was a scam.
Police urge the public to be cautious with unfamiliar emails and to delete them without opening.
Scammers often use readily available names from websites, such as those of priests or police officers, to lend credibility to their fraudulent schemes.
These scams, which can be perpetrated from anywhere in the world, typically involve urgent and discreet requests.
Officials remind residents that police reports are only filed when money is lost or sensitive information is disclosed.
They advise vigilance against the common “red flags” of scams, which include pressure to act quickly, requests for secrecy, and inability to communicate through normal channels like phone calls.
