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Scam alert

Text From a Church Leader Asking for Gift Cards? Call the Church

Posted

Dunlap, TN · local3news.com · Arrives by a text message

The short answer

A text that seems to come from a leader at your church and asks you to buy gift cards or prepaid cards is a scam. In October 2026, the Dunlap Police Department in Tennessee said people posing as local church leadership were texting residents and asking them to buy Green Dot cards, and that the messages may look convincing but are not legitimate. Don't buy the cards or send any card numbers. Call the church office or the person on a number you already have, not one from the text.

What is happening

On October 14, 2026, Local 3 News and SValleyNow reported that the Dunlap Police Department in Tennessee had learned of text messages sent by people posing as local church leadership, with urgent requests to buy Green Dot cards. Police said the texts may appear convincing but are not legitimate, and asked anyone who has been affected by this or any other scam to call the department at (423) 949-3319 or the E911 dispatch non-emergency line at (423) 949-9912.

How to recognize it

  • A text that seems to come from someone in your church's leadership asks you to buy Green Dot cards or other gift cards.
  • The request is pressing, and it arrives by text instead of in person or in a call you can check.
  • The message looks convincing. Dunlap police say that does not make it legitimate.
  • Any request to pay or help with gift cards or prepaid cards, from anyone, is the sign to stop and check.

What to do instead

  1. Don't buy gift cards or prepaid cards because of a text, even one that seems to come from someone you know.
  2. Call the church office or the person on a number you already have, or ask them in person.
  3. Don't reply to the text, and don't send card numbers or photos of cards.
  4. Tell the church about the text so others can be warned.
  5. If you want to tell someone, the rule is: a gift card request by text gets a phone call to the church first.

If it already happened

Responding to one of these is common and understandable. These steps are what people usually take next.

  1. Buying cards for someone you want to help is common and understandable. These texts borrow the name of a person people trust.
  2. Call the card company right away using the number on the back of the card, say it was a scam, and ask whether the balance can be frozen. Keep the cards and the receipts.
  3. In Dunlap, call the police department at (423) 949-3319 or the E911 non-emergency line at (423) 949-9912. Anywhere, tell your local police.
  4. You can also report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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Common questions

Why would a scammer pretend to be from my church?
A familiar name makes a request feel safe to answer. Dunlap police said these texts may appear convincing but are not legitimate, so the check is a call to the church on a number you already have.
Can I just reply and ask if it's really them?
It is safer not to. A reply goes to whoever sent the text. Contact the person or the church office on a number you already have, so you know who you are talking to.

Practice this safely

Practice pausing on a request from someone you know and checking with them on a number you already have.

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Text From a Church Leader Asking for Gift Cards? Call the Church

A text that seems to come from a leader at your church and asks you to buy gift cards or prepaid cards is a scam. In October 2026, the Dunlap Police Department in Tennessee said people posing as local church leadership were texting residents and asking them to buy Green Dot cards, and that the messages may look convincing but are not legitimate. Don't buy the cards or send any card numbers. Call the church office or the person on a number you already have, not one from the text.

Read the full alert: https://endscamsproject.com/latest-scams/church-leadership-gift-card-text-scam

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This alert provides general educational information drawn from the sources above. It cannot determine whether a specific message you received is genuine, investigate an incident, or promise recovery or reimbursement.

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