The Presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeomie, has warned internet fraudsters operating within the Christian community to desist from cybercrime, saying their activities have devastating consequences on their victims.
Ibiyeomie, who spoke during a recent sermon, described internet fraud, popularly known as “Yahoo,” as outright stealing, regardless of how perpetrators attempt to justify or disguise the practice.
The cleric expressed concern that some individuals involved in cybercrime still participate actively in church activities and make financial contributions from proceeds allegedly obtained through fraud.
According to him, Christians should not associate with people who deliberately take what belongs to others through fraudulent means.
“Yahoo is stealing. You are just colourising it, but it is stealing. Is it your money? Whatever you take that belongs to someone else is stealing,” he said.
Ibiyeomie further highlighted the consequences of cybercrime on victims, recounting the case of an electrical engineer and professor at Rivers State University who, according to him, lost his life savings to fraudsters.
The pastor said the man became overwhelmed after discovering that his entire savings had been taken and subsequently collapsed and died.
“This man, they yahooed him of all that he had in his account. He physically held his burglar-proof and collapsed. He died. They took every money saved,” Ibiyeomie said.
He warned that fraudsters should not expect the church to endorse or accept money obtained through illicit means.
“And if you are in this church and you are yahoo, you will go to another church and do your offering. I don’t care how much you have because you are killing people,” he stated.
The cleric also rejected economic hardship as an excuse for cybercrime, stressing that financial difficulties should not justify depriving innocent people of their lifetime savings.
He urged Christians to distance themselves from fraudsters and avoid treating cybercrime as a legitimate means of making a living.
