Using a Catholic version of the "grandchild trick", criminals in Spain have relieved gullible victims of thousands of euros.
As the newspaper "El Diario" (Friday) reports, the fraudsters do not pretend to be close relatives on the phone, but high-ranking clergymen.
With the help of artificial intelligence (AI ), they imitate the voices of well-known bishops, vicars general and priests.
In the Andalusia region, several nuns reportedly fell for the trick and transferred large sums of money at the request of the fraudsters.
At least a dozen Spanish dioceses are said to be affected by the fake calls.
The Bishops' Conference has therefore issued a warning to all church institutions in the country about the new scam.
Extreme caution is required: "The dioceses are not asking for money - or at least they are not doing it this way."
Those affected should report any such calls immediately.