14 DAY TRIAL // We've seen lots of ID thefts and credit card scams but when they're conducted by a former pastor who's here to represent God, that's pretty shocking news. A recent report by Associated Press reveals that Rev. Raymond Clayton from Northumberland County has pleaded guilty to charges of using parishioners' details to obtain money. The 43-year-old pastor is now waiting for his sentence, scheduled for June, which may send him behind bars for approximately one year.
Being questioned regarding the theft, Patricia Tomedi, an 83-year-old church member who lost approximately 20 pounds due to the pastor's illegal activity, had a simple reaction: "Thank God," she said according to AP. Well, it may seem like God is the only one to be trusted when talking about private information and financial details.
However, this case underlines the need for basic security measures which should be adopted by all the people out there: do not disclose any of your private details as long as they can be used to steal money or other things. Not even if he's a pastor because some of them cannot be trusted at all. And you know the saying: "Do not do what the pastor does, do what he says!".
Anyway, it's a good thing that cases like this do not remain unpunished because thieves must understand that stealing is bad and as long as they attempt to take advantage of people's naivety, they'll pay for it. Just think of Akill, an 18-year-old hacker who managed to build a huge botnet and infected a large number of computers around the world in order to do what? Get some money from adware companies and then a rough punishment from the judge? I guess it isn't worth it...