Preying Through the Pulpit (Pastors fall for scam artists)

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-affinity13jan13.story
COLUMN ONE
Preying Through the Pulpit
Scam artists are increasingly targeting African American churches, hoping to first hook pastors, authorities say.
By E. Scott Reckard
Times Staff Writer

January 13, 2005

Bishop Edwin J. Derensbourg thought the new parishioner with the Rolls-Royce and flashy clothes would bring a measure of prosperity to his modest United Christian Fellowship church in Palmdale.

The parishioner, Phoebus Vincent Smith, said he wanted to make African Americans like himself rich through savvy investments. Derensbourg didn't know much about investing, but he reasoned that if "Mr. Vince" could help members of his black church prosper, his collection basket would reap dividends.

Derensbourg invited Smith to address the men's group at the church and became the first of about 10 in the congregation to invest. Within six months, the pastor said, his investment had paid back thousands of dollars in cash, and he was driving around in a blue Rolls-Royce, a gift from Mr. Vince.

A few months later, the minister said, the money petered out, Smith became hard to find, and his conscience was gnawed by the belief that he had become an evangelist for a scam.

"He was taking care of me so other people would get into this thing," Derensbourg said.<snip>

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. for some reason, the ministry seems to attract scam artists

I think it is because of the authority and faith that rest in a minister. A minister is a respected member of the community, but because of his/her position and background, they often aren't really savvy at realizing when they meet a con.

[supernova]

2. Ugh. This is awful

I feel sorry for this guy and his church. :-(

I hope they can find this creep and bring him to justice and stop him from harming other churches.