Fake email messages are being sent in the name of Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported Tuesday morning.
A message posted on the patriarchate’s website by Fr. Davide Meli, chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate, said, “ATTENTION: the emails sent from prpizzaballa@gmail.com ARE PART OF A SCAM. Fake messages are being sent via email by someone who poses as His Beatitude. Please be vigilant.”
No other information was provided.
Pizzaballa was appointed to the role of Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem by Pope Francis in October 2020, after his service as Apostolic Administrator for a period of four years.
Email scams have been on the rise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic more than two years ago, according to multiple reports.