La Crosse Police Warn of Gift Card Scam Targeting Church Members

Criminals impersonate local religious leaders to steal money through gift card purchases

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Police in La Crosse, Wisconsin are warning residents about a new scam where criminals are impersonating local religious leaders to steal money through gift card purchases. Two people have already fallen victim to the scheme, losing a combined $2,300. The scam involves scammers researching church information online, including pastor names and contact details, and then calling congregation members claiming to be their pastor and asking them to purchase gift cards for the 'underprivileged'.

Why it matters

This scam takes advantage of the trust that church members have in their religious leaders, making it particularly insidious. It also highlights the need for increased vigilance when it comes to verifying unusual requests, even if they appear to come from trusted community figures.

The details

Once someone purchases the gift cards, the scammer asks for a photo of the card or requests the victim share the card information over the phone. This gives the criminal access to the funds. Police are urging residents to verify any unusual requests, even if they appear to come from trusted community leaders.

  • On February 13, 2026, police in La Crosse, Wisconsin issued a warning about the gift card scam.

The players

Capt. John Wenger

A police captain in La Crosse, Wisconsin who provided details about the gift card scam.

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What they’re saying

“People will go on websites and find church information, pastor names and information, and I believe in this situation he called and said, 'Hey, I'm the pastor from the church looking to buy gift cards for the underprivileged. Can you go out and buy these for me?'”

— Capt. John Wenger, Police Captain (news8000.com)

What’s next

Police are urging residents to be vigilant and verify any unusual requests, even if they appear to come from trusted community leaders.

The takeaway

This scam highlights the need for increased awareness and caution when it comes to verifying the legitimacy of requests, especially those involving gift card purchases. It serves as a reminder that criminals will exploit positions of trust to carry out their schemes.