A Madison couple who moved to Minnesota lost more than $200,000 in a sophisticated email scam authorities say is sweeping the country.
“People in other countries are using our system – our banking system – to rob U.S. citizens,” says Steve Tadevich.
Read more of this story from KARE 11 TV.
Local update:
Steve Tadevich came to faith through the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ (now known as CRU) 50 years ago on the campus of the University of Wisconsin. He worked as a realtor and real estate appraiser and was active in lay ministry through High Point Church while he lived in the Madison area.
In an email to madisonchristians.com, Tadevich said:
“One of the reasons we went public was to help keep other people from going through what we are now experiencing. It all could have been avoided with one phone call. Long story made short…if the title company or bank sends you any financial request or wiring instructions via email, ALWAYS, call, fax or make a personal visit if they are close, to verify what you received is actually what they sent. DO NOT USE THE EMAIL TO VERIFY EMAIL!
“My first reaction was to go to Romania, find the people and shoot and hang them at the same time, however, in the same instant, I forgave them. There is a difference between forgiving and excusing. There is no excuse for what they did. If Christ can forgive a person like me…I can forgive them…and I want to! Only Christ can change their hearts. Yes, God is still in control.”
Tadevich noted that the daughter and son-in-law of Jim Green, the CRU staffmember who brought him to faith, have been active in ministry in Romania. “I emailed Jim to see what city his daughter and son-in-law would be working in,” he wrote. “The city is Bucharest…the same city where our money was sent. Yes, God is still in control!”