Davao archdiocese warns of bogus Capalla e-mail

MANILA, Philippines - Computer hackers have reportedly penetrated the electronic mail (e-mail) of Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), to solicit donations from the public.

According to the CBCPNews, official news service provider of the CBCP, the secretariat of the Archdiocese of Davao sent this message: “If you receive an e-mail from Kenya, Africa, kindly disregard it. The person who sent it has corrupted the e-mail address of the Archbishop, hence the message is not true.”

According to the scam letter, Capalla supposedly went to Nigeria, Sweden and Kenya for a missionary program, and that he was robbed on his way to his hotel in Nigeria.

The letter further alleged that Capalla badly needed $2,500 to pay his hotel bills so he could return to the Philippines.

The fraud e-mail read: “I will appreciate your help. I promise I will pay you back upon my return. Let me know if you can assist me so that I can send you the details to use when sending the money through Western Union. Peace & Joy. Hope to hear from you soon. God bless. Archbishop Capalla.”

Last week, the office of Pampanga Auxiliary Bishop Roberto Mallari informed CBCPNews that his e-mail address has been hacked, too, by someone who is now soliciting money for the bishop’s supposed hotel bills and return airfare amounting to 1,430 pounds after he was allegedly robbed in London.

Early last year, Surigao Bishop Antonieto Cabajog learned from a friend about an e-mail he had supposedly sent seeking donations for a church project.