Anglicans victims of email scam

Fraudsters have conned Anglicans in Wellington out of $14,000 dollars through a bogus emergency appeal to parishioners. The email scam asked for cash donations to help a Tanzanian bishop's wife have life saving heart surgery.

Archdeacon Lyall Perris says the Tanzanian bishop is a friend of Wellington. Mr Perris says the fraud was exposed after the bishop's wife was asked how she was doing after surgery.

Mr Perris says the church now double-checks the background behind any appeals for help it receives.

In future he says, it id likely they will work through secure banking agencies, but this current scam is going to make things awkward for any legitimate urgent requests for help.

Mr Perris says the Tanzanian bishop's wife was shocked to discover the church was conned of money for a surgery she did not need.

- NEWSTALK ZB