Scam requesting gift cards circulating South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The scam is old, but if you want to help those in need it may pull at your heart strings....for a moment.

I got a text today from someone claiming to be Father Mauricio Hurtado of St. Theresa Catholic Church. While I am not a member of the church I am co-chair of their Bread & Broth 4 Kids program and it isn't that abnormal for him to contact me, though it is normally through email.

So at 8:25 a.m. Friday when the text says, "Hi Paula, I need a favor from you, text me back as soon as you get my message - Fr. Mauricio Hurtado," I hit reply right away.

That is where helping someone changes into a scam and an attempt to get a $200 gift card from EBAY for someone battling cancer in the hospital. They want me to purchase it, scratch off the back number, take a picture of it and then type out the numbers "very carefully." This person then says to give him the receipt and he will reimburse me as soon as out of his meetings.

"He" ends the text with "God Bless."

The "real" Father Mauricio has a secretary and others in the office and parish that could and would help as well. He would not ask for money in this manner and the phone number it is coming from - 530.296.4325 - does not belong to him or the parish.

If one calls this number it shuts off and accepts texts only.

This type of scam happens every day but I wanted people in South Lake Tahoe to be aware of this today since the text may be going out to many in the community.

There is nothing law enforcement can do since these phone numbers belong to "burner" or pay-as-you-go phones and that could be in any state or any country.

Do not send any gift card information to anyone in this manner...it is always a scam. If you'd like to donate to St. Theresa Catholic Church and their great programs, there are safe ways.