TL;DR: ABC News reported on 23 September 2026 that scammers have impersonated church ministers across Australia since 2021, in every state and territory. They use look-alike email addresses to ask congregation members to buy gift cards for a supposedly vulnerable parishioner, then request the card details. Anyone who gets such a request should phone the minister on a number they already hold.

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What ABC News reported

ABC News reported on 23 September 2026 that scammers have been impersonating church ministers across Australia since 2021, targeting churches in every state and territory.

The scammers create email addresses that mimic a real minister's account with small changes, such as swapping underscores for full stops. They may ask for a church directory, or email congregation members directly while posing as the rector and asking them to buy gift cards, supposedly for vulnerable congregants. The next step is a request for the card details.

A Sydney Anglican Services IT leader told the ABC that once scammers get access, they email the congregation posing as the rector. The report also mentioned fake invoices disguised as legitimate bills and fake piano donation offers that ask for shipping costs. Elderly and less tech-savvy congregants were described as particularly vulnerable.

Red flags

Protection steps

Call the person directly on a number you already hold instead of replying to the email. Never share personal or financial details by email without independent confirmation. Church administrators should limit who can access membership lists, and members can ask that directory requests be confirmed by phone.

Our guides on how to protect elderly parents from phone scams and elder fraud statistics for 2026 cover the wider pattern, and what to do after a scam, wherever you live explains what to do if money has already gone.

Why gift cards, and why churches

Gift cards suit scammers because the codes can be redeemed quickly and are very hard to trace or reverse. Churches and community groups are attractive targets because the leader's name is public, members trust one another and a request framed as helping someone in need is hard to refuse.

The report said the scam has run since 2021, so a congregation that has not seen it yet may well see it soon. A simple rule helps: any request for money or gift cards that arrives by email, even from someone you know well, is confirmed by phone first. Churches can also remind members, in a notice or newsletter, that the minister will never ask for gift cards by email.

Where to report

Report the emails to Scamwatch, or to local police. If you shared card codes, contact the gift card issuer and your bank straight away. See how to report a scam to Scamwatch for the reporting steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did these church scams start?

The ABC reported on 23 September 2026 that scammers have impersonated ministers across Australia since 2021.

How do the scammers imitate a minister?

They set up email addresses that mimic the minister's real one with small changes, such as swapping underscores for full stops.

What do they ask for?

They ask congregation members to buy gift cards, supposedly for a vulnerable member of the congregation, and then to send the card details.

How can I check a request?

Phone the minister directly on a number you already hold, rather than replying to the email.

Sources

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