Guidestone warns clients to be on look for scammers

SUWANEE, Ga. — A faith-based organization that handles retirement accounts and investments for Southern Baptists is warning its clients to be on the lookout for scammers requesting payments via wire transfers or by sending money via Zelle.

Guidestone Financial Resources issued the warning on Friday.

“Of special note, be wary of any communications or money transfer requests from government entities or agencies relating to recent events in the financial industry,” Guidestone said.

The statement called on clients to never sent money to anyone claiming your account has been compromised, anyone asking claiming to be from a government agency, telemarketers trying to sell you something. That includes “anyone asking you to send money to yourself.”

“If you get a suspicious call, email, or text, don’t disclose any personal information until you verify it’s from a legitimate source,” Guidestone said. “If you have any doubt, contact the company directly. Only allow remote access to your computer when you’ve initiated the contact with a company you know through a verified phone number or website.”

Guidestone said clients should always protect their user IDs and passphrases by never sharing them and making them difficult to guess.

“Remember that we will never ask for your passphrase,” Guidestone said.

“If you suspect one of your accounts has been compromised, immediately change your user ID and passphrase for your GuideStone account and other important accounts,” Guidestone said.

Here is Guidestone's full statement:

Scammers continue to target digital money movement channels. While impersonating well-known companies and government agencies, scammers can contact you requesting payment through a Wire Transfer or by sending money with Zelle® --these methods allow money to be sent quickly, and the funds are often difficult to recover. Of special note, be wary of any communications or money transfer requests from government entities or agencies relating to recent events in the financial industry.

You should never wire money or send money using Zelle® or similar payment platforms to:

• Anyone claiming your account is compromised
• Anyone asking you to send money to yourself
• Anyone who claims to be from a government agency
• Any stranger, no matter what reason they give
• A telemarketer trying to sell you something
• Unauthorized, unverified cryptocurrency sites or salespeople

Let’s fight fraud together. Visit and bookmark our recently updated Security website for the latest fraud and security insights at: https://www.guidestone.org/About-Us/Security

Stay vigilant to protect your personal accounts

• If you get a suspicious call, email, or text, don’t disclose any personal information until you verify it’s from a legitimate source. If you have any doubt, contact the company directly.
• Only allow remote access to your computer when you’ve initiated the contact with a company you know through a verified phone number or website.
• Always protect your User ID and Passphrase. Be sure it is not easily guessable, do not enter it on a non-GuideStone site, and remember that we will never ask for your passphrase.
• Set up 2-factor authentication (multiple ways to identify yourself) with the companies you work with to help keep your device and money secure. GuideStone already requires 2-factor authentication for certain transactions.
• If you suspect one of your accounts has been compromised, immediately change your user ID and passphrase for your GuideStone account and other important accounts.