Scamming the faithful: Pastors warn congregants about AI deepfakes

Published: Friday, March 6, 2026 at 6:26 pm

AI Deepfakes Target Religious Leaders, Eroding Trust

A growing number of religious leaders are facing a new threat: artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes designed to scam their congregants. These sophisticated scams involve AI creating videos that mimic pastors, spreading false messages, and soliciting money.

Pastor Jennifer LeClaire, with a significant online following, encountered a deepfake video of herself used to deceive a follower. The AI-generated video, made to look and sound like her, was used to gain the follower's trust and request funds. This incident highlights the increasing accessibility of deepfake technology and its potential for misuse.

Reverend Christopher Benek, an expert in religion and technology, compares these deepfakes to earlier email phishing scams. He emphasizes the importance of educating congregants to identify and avoid these scams. The Federal Bureau of Investigation suggests looking for visual distortions, unnatural movements, and poor audio quality as indicators of synthetic content.

Father Rafael Cap, a Catholic priest and digital influencer, has also experienced similar scams. Scammers created fake profiles of him and used them to solicit money from his followers. He notes that the target audience is not limited to older individuals, with young people also falling victim to these schemes.

The Catholic Church, aware of the implications of AI, is addressing the issue. Pope Leo XIV has emphasized the need to harness the benefits of AI while recognizing the potential for misuse.

BNN's Perspective:

The rise of AI-generated deepfakes targeting religious leaders is a concerning development. It underscores the need for increased digital literacy and vigilance within religious communities. While technology offers numerous benefits, it also presents new challenges to trust and authenticity. Religious leaders must adapt and educate their followers to navigate this evolving landscape.

Keywords: AI deepfakes, religious leaders, scams, artificial intelligence, phishing, digital literacy, trust, congregants, technology, misinformation, Father Rafael Cap, Jennifer LeClaire, Reverend Christopher Benek, Pope Leo XIV, Catholic Church, online scams, synthetic content, video scams, faith leaders, online safety

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