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ALERT: Hoax/Scam Continues vs. CANA |
Please be aware that apparently some who oppose CANA have been resorting to rather vulgar tactics. A scam has been surfacing in various forms across the USA since May 2008.
Early in May 2008, CANA's Bishop David Bena was contacted by a landlord in Minnesota who informed us that he had received a query from a supposedly potential tenant who claimed to be a priest from England and who claimed that he was coming to the States in order to work for Bishop Minns, Bishop Bena, and CANA for about two years. The tenant further told the landlord that they were going to send a large check in excess of the rent with the request that the landlord cash it and buy furniture for the foreign tenant who would not be able to bring furnishings with them from England. Another landlord from Florida called the CANA Headquarters (HQ) with the same scenario.
Later in May 2008, another landlord called the CANA HQ to report that a supposed new tenant FedEx'ed a large check to him, requesting that the excess funds be wired to a friend in Arkansas. Since May 2008, the CANA HQ has received numerous calls from landlords describing similar scenarios. This is a hoax by those who wish to defame CANA.
Learn the warning signs:
- They claim to be moving from outside the area or even another country; they send a check or money order for rent, plus extra to cover shipping expenses for their belongings.
- They ask you to forward the excess to someone, but they could have easily done this themselves.
- They have unexpected expenses and ask you to cash a check or money order, then send some of the deposit back as a favor.
- Their check or money order for the rental includes extra to rent a car; they ask you to send the extra to someone who will make the car rental arrangements.
Some FAQs from the National Consumer League:
8. If I can get the cash, doesn’t that mean the check or money order is good?
Federal law requires banks and credit unions to make the funds you deposit available quickly, usually within five days, depending on the type of check or money order. Just because you can withdraw the money doesn’t mean the check or money order is good. It can take weeks, even months, for counterfeits to be discovered.
9. Why can’t my bank or credit union or the check cashing service tell if the check or money order is good?
- When you deposit a check or money order, federal law requires you to have access to the funds within one to five days, but the actual processing takes longer.
- Banks, credit unions, and check cashing services accept checks and money orders based on your identification. They don’t have any information about the source.
- Because the check or money order goes back to the source, it can take a while for counterfeits to be discovered.
- You’re responsible because you’re in the best position to determine the risk of accepting the check or money order – you dealt with the person who gave it to you.
15. What are law enforcement agencies doing?
Law enforcement agencies are making global efforts to stop the scammers, however these efforts may not be able to prevent all cases of fraud. One major challenge for law enforcement is that scammers are often located in foreign countries, making investigations and prosecutions difficult. Even if the scammers are in the U.S., there is no guarantee that they’ll be tracked down or that the money they stole will be recovered.
» click here to file an online report which the National Consumers League’s Fraud Center will forward to law enforcement
» click here for more FAQs (there are two pages)
» click here to watch a video from a landlord, Mrs. Jill Parker (her story is unrelated to CANA)
Thankfully the landlords who have contacted us had their wits about them to check the reference with CANA. We pray that no other landlord has been taken advantage of by this scam. We also pray that whomever is perpetrating this scam will be convicted by the Holy Spirit, repent of their sin, and seek a personal relationship with Jesus the Messiah who can transform all lives.
Caveat emptor.
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