MORGANTOWN — Attorney General Patrick Morrisey urges consumers to exercise caution when receiving unsolicited pay-for-prayer calls.
The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division recently learned of robocalls circulating once again in West Virginia from the “St. Mary’s Prayer Center Ministry.”
This so-called ministry, the AG said, has no known connection to the similarly named city of St. Marys in Pleasants County, St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, three churches bearing the St. Mary’s name in the Morgantown area, or other entities elsewhere in West Virginia.
Calls from this entity are known to have reached Morgantown-area residents.
The AG said entities soliciting consumers in such a manner use robocalls, websites and unsolicited email to exploit the consumer’s desire for prayer. The process typically involves a donation in exchange for prayer.
“Consumers must exercise caution with any unsolicited call,” Morrisey said. “No matter the service or product, consumers should never provide payment or personal information to a stranger without verifying the legitimacy of the represented entity.”
Morrisey suggested consumers follow these general tips when faced with unsolicited telephone calls, emails and other communications:
— Do not answer an unrecognized number. Spoofing technology allows callers to misrepresent their true location by calling from what appears to be a local or in-state number.
— Never give away financial or personal information without verifying the recipient.
— Verify the legitimacy of a charity or organization by reviewing the Secretary of State’s website to see if it is registered to solicit donations in West Virginia. Other research can be found on websites such as www.charitynavigator.org or www.guidestar.org.
— Contact the legitimate agency to verify its existence and double check that it is soliciting the desired information and/or donations.
Consumers with questions can contact the Consumer Protection Division at 800-368-8808, the Eastern Panhandle Consumer Protection Office in Martinsburg at 304-267-0239 or visit the office online at wvago.gov.
