Message from the Office of Public Relations & Communications of the Archdiocese of Toronto:
There have been a number of fake emails received pretending to be Chancery staff or clergy and soliciting donations in the form of gift cards and other items. These are fraudulent emails sent by criminals. Clergy and staff at the Archdiocese of Toronto and its parishes and missions do not solicit gifts by asking someone in an email to purchase gift cards. If you receive an unusual, unsolicited email from someone who works for the archdiocese, please check the email address of the sender. If it is not @archtoronto.org then it may be a fake message. Do not reply to these emails, as an increased reply rate encourages more fake emails. If in doubt, contact the sender by some alternate means such as emailing or calling the parish or chancery office associated with the sender. Please feel free to regularly share this information with parishioners or any lay associations that you are working with as these seem to be the people who are targeted.