Eugene police warn of impersonation and pastor-text scams targeting residents

Eugene Police on Jan. 5 alerted the community to two active fraud schemes that have targeted local residents and religious communities. In one scam, callers impersonate a Eugene Police sergeant, threaten arrest and demand payment. In the other, scammers send texts to church members that appear to come from their pastor, asking for urgent help and prompting a text response.

Both schemes rely on fear and urgency to pressure people into sending money or sharing sensitive information. Police and the City of Eugene emphasized that unsolicited demands for cash, gift cards, credit card numbers or account log-ins are red flags. The City newsflash also advised residents not to text back to such messages and to independently verify requests by calling a known church number or other trusted contact information.

The frauds pose immediate financial risk to individual victims and broader public health concerns for the community. Financial losses can destabilize household budgets, undermine trust in local institutions and increase stress and anxiety, particularly among older adults, people on fixed incomes and those with limited access to technology or financial literacy resources. Faith communities that play central roles in social support are also at risk when their communications are mimicked to exploit congregants.

Police asked anyone who incurred a financial loss to contact the Eugene Police Department non-emergency line at 541-682-5111 or to report the incident online. Prompt reporting helps investigators track patterns and may prevent additional losses in the community. Residents are encouraged to notify pastors, church administrators and neighbors if they encounter suspicious messages so congregations can warn members directly.

Because these scams exploit familiar relationships and official-sounding authority, prevention requires both individual caution and coordinated community outreach. Churches and community organizations can reduce harm by reminding members of verification procedures, sharing the department's contact information, and offering assistance to older members and others who may be targeted. Local service providers and social programs that serve low-income residents should likewise integrate scam awareness into their client communications to reduce inequitable impacts.

Eugene’s advisory reinforces a simple precaution: do not provide money or account information to unsolicited callers or texters, do not reply to suspicious texts, and independently confirm any urgent request using a phone number or contact you already have. Reporting incidents to the police helps protect neighbors and supports efforts to disrupt these schemes.