Archdiocese Warning Of Nationwide Gift Card Scam Where Criminals Create Accounts In Church's Name

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is warning its parishioners about a nationwide gift card scam.

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As part of the scam, online criminals create email accounts in a pastor or church's name.

They ask parishioners to purchase gift cards and to then email them the numbers off the back of the cards.

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"Unfortunately, we live in a day and age when scams have become all too common and in which individuals use technology to prey on good-hearted and generous people," said Kenneth Gavin, a spokesman for the archdiocese. "Such acts are reprehensible."