AOS Phone Scam - Please Beware!

What would Halloween be without a trick?

Just sharing my experience last night (Friday, the 29th of Oct.) so you will be aware of some telephone scam, a spooky one that may happen to anyone even beyond the Halloween.

Here is the story:
My work phone rang at about 6:30 pm.EST. I answered, identified myself but there was no sound on the other line, this lasted for 3 seconds I guess (I noted the tel. no. in the caller ID). Then the phone rang again as soon as I put it down (noting the same tel. no. appearing in the caller ID).

I answered and the person on the other end of the line identified himself as Father____, AOS national director of Malaysia. He asked if I remembered him, as he said we met at the AOS World Congress in Poland. I told him I could not remember, there were so many people. Immediately he said he had a problem, he and his mom at that time were inside the Philippines International airport in route from Malaysia to the US via the Philippines.

He sounded desperate and asked that I call him back because he was using a prepaid phone card and he has only 10 seconds left in the card. He gave me a cell number to call (which incidentally was the same tel. no.he used earlier. I felt uncomfortable then, but I thought the person could really be in dire need. To be prudent, I quickly checked the International Stella Maris website on information about AOS Malaysia.

I called the number and the same person answered informing of his situation, explaining that because of the death of his sister who is based in Washington, DC, he had to apply for an emergency visa in the US Embassy in Malaysia, etc., etc. and that he had in his position the faxed copy of the emergency visa from the Department of Homeland Security, etc., but did not pay the immigration visa fee. However, he needs to pay the immigration visas for him and his mom there at the Philippines airport, otherwise both of them will not be allowed to board the plane etc., etc.  and because he does not have funds, he asked if I can help and he promised to pay once he is in Washington, DC.

I asked him where is he based and he responded giving the contact information similar to the info found in  Stella Maris international website including the name of the bishop promoter of Malaysia. 

I kind of proved gently (remember, he was in grief because of a death in the family), how come airport Immigration officers in Malaysia allowed him to board the plane. He countered  with some reasons. I asked if he informed his bishop and his family in Washington, DC and he gave reasons he was unable to get in touch with them.

Finally the person said that he and his mom had only two hours before boarding time, and asked  if I can send him $ 550 USD, to send to a name of a Philippine immigration officer, via Western Union or Money Gram inside the airport and that officer can get it, etc., etc. 

To make the long story short, I immediately called an immigration lawyer friend who advised me that it could not be what that person claimed, the immigration story  was spooky.

To verify the identity of the priest, I called quickly a friend who is staff of the office for Human Development,  Federation of Asian Bishops' Conference, he happens to be a Malaysian based in Kuala Lumpur and he said that it is a scam. He told me that he just spoke a few days before with the priest, Fr. Eugene Benedict, the AOS national director and that caller who claimed he is Father Benedict is not the true Father Benedict.  My friend also said that a similar scam happened in Singapore.

Here are my observations:
1. The 'scammer' did a research before calling a potential victim. The internet is a veritable and virtual source of information.
2. The telephone scam is customized/personalized to ensure a wide margin of success for the 'scammer' , unlike email scams that send a group message.
3. The 'scammer' will give a little window of time, i.e. "he and his mom are  2 hours from boarding time", so a potential victim will be pressured to do what he wanted done".
4. A  telephone scam may occur on a weekend (or the night before as in my case), so verification of his/her identity is minimized.

Well, I did not send the scammer  the money, which could have been a treat for him, and I slept without a nightmare last night, knowing that it was a well woven fabricated story.

Just so you will be aware of that type of scam. Happy Halloween,

Sr. Myrna 

Just a short not to let you know about a phone call we had here at
Brisbane office today. Someone claiming to be Deacon Albert Dacanay  called our office today saying he was stuck in the Philippines and needed assistance.

We here at Brisbane are fortunate enough to know Albert and where aware that the person we where speaking to was not Albert. They claimed that they had to make a payment and travel tax. They wanted us to send Western Union money to them.

 Please don't send any money this is a scam and we don't want you guys to be caught out.

 Thanks Shelley

AOS Brisbane

Thanks Shelley,
Coincidentally, one of our chaplains almost got conned as well yesterday
when a certain Bishop George Brown from New Zealand (Diocese of Hamilton) called and asked help so he can attend his sister's funeral in Canada.

As Fr. Bruno said, let us all be alert and vigilant and must verify the
authenticity of the request/person. They seem to be getting bolder now.
God bless!
Deacon Albert M. Dacanay
Regional Coordinator - AOS North America & Caribbean