Emails from other countries asking for christian donations

I imagine that everyone who has an email account has received emails saying that they have won the lottery or emails that talk about needing someone to help them get a bunch of money out of a bank overseas. Most emails like this start off by saying "I am the son of the late general", and so on. Well, we all know that these emails are scams and I guess they keep coming because some people have definitely fallen for them. What they are trying to do is for you to give them your bank account information and then they wipe you out.

Some of these scammers have learned a new trick. They are now sending emails saying that they are pastors and they need support. Just about all of these emails come from Africa. It could be that there is a pastor our there that has written an email to millions of people he does not even know asking for money for his church but I really doubt it.

I get many emails from so called African pastors saying, "I have a church and we are all alone and we want to join your ministry. Please send money so we can feed our children and we can win people for the kingdom of heaven". Do these guys really think that I am going to send them money without even knowing them? Guess what? I may not but there are many that do. There are people (especially the elderly) that will write them back. That is the first mistake. Then the giver will be given instructions on how to send funds. Some go as far as to say, "our church in africa wants to give you a love offering. Please give us your wire instructions so we can deposit the funds". In other words, once they get a donation from you, they write you and say that in gratitude, their church wants to give something back.

These guys are not dumb. They look at this like fishing and they know that if they throw enough bait out there, they will eventually catch a big fish. Here is what you need to think about when you receive one of these emails. It takes money to send out a million email addresses. If these people say that they live in a poor village with no electricity or water, how are they sending all these emails out asking for money.

There are many organizations and ministries that need your help and please never stop giving but be sure and give to ministries that you know about. Give to missionaries that have visited your church or you know they really do exist. Take time and call their office and get to know the people you are going to give to. Here is a good way of being careful. If an organization does not have an office in the U.S, then you need to be very careful. It is not just your money but it is God's money and we are to be good stewards.

Just a little advice from us. We have traveled around many countries and we have seen it all. Just be careful. You can help many people change their lives but you can also throw your money into the hands of scam artist. Give to who you know and stay away from people who offer no accountability.

Philip