Police in Portugal are investigating a fraud scheme after scammers impersonated parish priest Emanuel Amorim in Vila Chã to solicit money from churchgoers on social media.
The fraudsters sent private messages to local residents claiming that the priest faced urgent financial difficulties and required immediate monetary assistance.
Recipients were instructed to transfer funds directly to a designated bank account located abroad.
The fraud came to light after a targeted parishioner grew suspicious of the message and contacted Father Amorim directly to verify the request.
Following the incident, the parish of Vila Chã issued an official warning on its public Facebook page to alert the local population. The parish statement clarified that Father Amorim is not requesting any funds through private messages or informal channels. Church officials advised all residents not to perform any bank transfers or send money, regardless of how pressing the request might appear.
Police investigation and community reaction
At least one formal criminal complaint has been filed with the Republican National Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana, or GNR), the national gendarmerie force responsible for security in Portugal's rural and suburban regions. Officers from the GNR have launched an official investigation into the fraud operation to identify those responsible for creating the fake accounts.
News of the scam caused widespread anger among residents in Vila Chã, a coastal parish situated within the municipality of Vila do Conde in northern Portugal. One local woman told Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã that Father Amorim would be entirely incapable of making such requests, calling him an excellent person and expressing deep sadness that criminals were misusing his name.
Priest concerns and clergy gathering
Father Amorim expressed deep concern over the fraudulent activity, highlighting the vulnerability of elderly residents who might easily fall victim to such online deception.
Reporters from Correio da Manhã attempted to contact Father Amorim on Tuesday for further comment regarding the ongoing investigation. The priest was attending a national gathering of Catholic clergy in Fátima, a major religious center in central Portugal, and was unavailable to respond.
