Bishop Lowe warns about fake online account

A Facebook account purporting to be from the bishop has been asking for money from followers.

Bishop Lowe told Radio New Zealand that he had sent a message to Facebook about the fake account. But Facebook doesn’t think the bishop is being impersonated, he said.

Contrary to the methods used in the fake account, Bishop Lowe said that when he has been involved in a collection, for instance for cyclone relief in Auckland and Hawke’s Bay, he explains how to donate and directs people to official websites.

There have been other instances “every now and then” of people impersonating New Zealand bishops on social media in order to get money, he added. People online should go to diocesan websites for links to official social media pages.

Social media has a lot going for it, Bishop Lowe said, but people need to be careful, especially when being asked for money.

The NetSafe website advises those who think an account of a well-known public figure is fake to “search their name to see if that’s their genuine or only account on the platform”.

If someone believes they are being impersonated, they can take actions such as posting an announcement on social media to warn contacts, as well as reporting the fake account to the platform.

An earlier warning about a fake social media account purporting to be Bishop Lowe was sent out two years ago.

FULL STORY

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/540743/catholic-bishop-of-auckland-warns-of-online-money-scam-using-his-likeness (By Finn Blackwell/Radio New Zealand)