I met this man yesterday. He called our church and told me that he just moved into town, and was having some surgery this week to amputate part of his foot. He had gotten frostbite on a mission trip with Saddleback - he had been at Saddleback for 24 years - and had parts of his feet removed. He just wanted someone to pray with him.
I met him at a public place, and he begins to throw out more names. One I knew, and knew to some degree his background. James said he knew this man, told of this man’s family and their profession and their growing up years. James even paid for my drink (non-alcoholic, though we were sitting at the bar).
He mentioned that he was homeless for the night, but never asked for money. He was going to stay in the hospital in the waiting room until he was admitted today.
Some things didn’t feel right, while others were so very convincing that it was hard to discredit. I took him to a hotel and paid for 1 night and gave him some money so he could walk across the street and get some food.
If in the front of your mind you are thinking, “David, you got scammed”, you were right.
We usually handle requests like this through a ministry called Love INC. The local group isn’t open on Monday, so I couldn’t call them to check on him, or ask them to pursue an interview with him. Today I called Saddleback and got the report from them, and I also emailed the person whose name I knew and got information back from them. Confirmed. A con man.
So I got scammed.
I John 3:17 But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help–how can God’s love be in that person? (NLT)
This verse haunted me yesterday and today. It was the basis for my thought process yesterday.
There are times when we invest in people and those risks pay off. People come to Christ or we help them and their lives are turned around. Other times, those risks don’t pay off and we get burned. Life is like that.
There are hundreds, even thousands of James Finlayson’s around. Some may cross your path some day. Be wise as a serpert. Have a process in place that helps you uncover the true motives of people like this. But in those times when your investment is a scam, don’t stop investing. Don’t stop loving. We can’t through the baby out with the bathwater.
EDIT: Here’s some pictures for you to see what Jamie looks like:
If you found this page useful, consider linking to it. Simply copy and paste the code below into your web site. It will look like this:
The Story of James Finlayson
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July 12th, 2006 at 12:12 am
Did you pray with him? This guy actually seemed to want to have some interaction. He may have wanted your wallet too! (lock it in your office or car next time)
Used to have alot of folks come through Cleveland, Tennessee with an array of stories. We decided that it was worth the time to have a conversation, to look for an opportunity for prayer and witness, and to show some mercy (Never cash- food coupons and gift certificates). And to let the local Love Inc./United Way clearing house know what’s up. It’s amazing how that networking built some bridges between churches in town.
Wisely administer justice and mercy, discern with faith. Micah 6:8 has always been my test in guiding my actions.
July 12th, 2006 at 8:09 am
Jeanne,
Prayer? When I actually met him, he said he wanted prayer the day of the surgery, not now. It was his ploy to get me there.
Did he need help? Yep, but different than what he said he needed.
July 13th, 2006 at 10:59 am
David,
We are confronted with James Finlayson’s all the time as well. “Story-telling” is big business overseas and hardly a week goes by that somebody doesn’t share with me their tragedy. While my mind tells me their story is a fraud, my heart is telling me that maybe they are part of the 1% who are telling the truth and to err on the side of mercy. Some of the story-tellers are so good and have just enough facts to make you feel like a selfish brat for not helping them. It always tears me up trying to figure out what to do. Don’t feel bad about having been dupped. In Heaven your motive was taken into consideration and the deed is “credited” to your account.
July 15th, 2006 at 11:25 pm
david,
if i could encourage at all. . . in addition to my role as a campus minister, my paid employment is working as the volunteer associate for a local rescue mission — the city rescue mission — daily our staff in our family care food bank, our true life men’s minstiry shelter/kitchen, and our covenant house, women’s shelter, deal with these same cases — when i first started working there 4 years ago, i would question why our staff would assit despite knowing the clients were being decpitive.
well . . . our exec. director passionately gave this answer to me — he said he would rather error on the side of grace rather than law any day
i guess my point is this. . . ya just never know how God will use your kindness despite this person’s motives and behaviors — you may have been the one who planted/watered seeds of hope in this guy’s life — and if ya know the passage i’m referring to — paul boldly finishes it by saying .. . but it’s God who brings the increase — so
so what may seem like your mishap. .. just may be God’s way of drawing one to Himself - you’ve been a kingdom planter brother. please don’t allow this to discourage you or cause you to be diheartened by those calling for help — i’ve seen many come to the mission just looking for someone to listen to them/pray with them/ or even at times to share Jesus with them - but it all starts with a meal, a bag of food, a place to sleep, — we like to say hope begins with a meal — most of the time the people we see are hungry for more than food, supplies, and shelter - they just need to know we really care about them and not just hearding them through our system — ya never know == this man may call upon you again — not to scam you but to seek to see Jesus through you because you cared enough about him to meet with him and help him.
thank you for being a kingdom minded servant
francie
July 20th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
David,
I agree with those who have said we should err on the side of grace and compassion. It appears that people occasionally took advantage of Jesus (the nine unthankful lepers come to mind, as does the paralyzed man who told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him on the Sabbath), and He even knew that they were going to do so, yet He still showed compassion to them. We should certainly be wise in helping others, but our primary consideration should be mercy and compassion, even if we get burned at times. And as Francie said, our compassion might plant a seed in someone’s life, even if they are taking advantage of us.
July 31st, 2006 at 11:25 am
I got a call on my cell phone from Jim on 29 July 2006 with a very similar story. He was asking for Promise Keepers to come and pray with him, for he was loosing his left foot do to frostbite. He was definsive and did not come out and ask for money, which I thought was a pride issue. His story was not clear or consistant, but I was moved that he was searching for help and was calling on his connections to Promise Keepers. Jim told us he was going to the Hospital on Sunday evening and would have tests on Monday and Tuesday scheduled for surgery.
We put Jim up for a night and gave him some money for food. I Called Fairfax hospital today (31 July2006) and he is not registered!
I am tempted to go Back to the Hotel and explain to them what is going on!
August 1st, 2006 at 2:16 pm
Hi — I just literally got home from being with James Finlayson, after buying him a train ticket to Fredericksburg, VA where he is picking up a car to borrow for 8 months while a friend is on a mission trip. I too believe I’ve been scammed. I also gave him $60 for gas and bought him lunch from Wendy’s.
I’m a Presbyterian Pastor in Alexandria, VA and Mr. Finlayson also had lots of Presbyterian names to throw around, along with the lingo (and with a name like Finlayson, he sounds like he even has Scottish roots.)
He even has the amputation story. Supposedly, he is having more of his leg amputated this week. (He clearly didn’t have his whole foot on either leg, again — according to his story — from a frostbite accident. He’s supposed to be checked into Alexandria Hospital tomorrow.
When I met him, I was literally doing a Bible study on what the Kingdom of God looks like, and I was trying to do the right thing. Yes, I’ve been scammed but we treated him like a human being as he deserves. I just wish he would tell the truth.
August 12th, 2006 at 2:22 pm
Wow-
If he keeps showing up at churches this regularly, he’s not going to have any feet left to amputate and will have to change the story to legs.
August 12th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
Marty,
The person I talked to, a guy you would know as he used to be at Southern and now is at Lifeway, told me that he’s been using his name, though the amputation story is new, for over 7 years. The people I spoke to at Saddleback told me they’ve heard this story for years as well. He’s spent most of his time in the south so the move to the mid-atlantic was new.
August 29th, 2006 at 9:08 pm
Well — Jamie has been heading south… He hit us in Williamsburg on Sunday (27 August)…
Same story as yours David…
September 11th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
He got me, too. This time he targeted the Gideons of which I am a member. He claimed to be a Gideon and wanted to pray with a Gideon before going into hospital the next day for amputation. I put him up in a hotel and gave him $20 to get something to eat. This happened August 25-26 in Richmond, VA.
September 22nd, 2006 at 9:56 pm
He tried to get me, too, in Rocky Mount, NC. Try to write more later.
September 23rd, 2006 at 8:20 am
Before my brief previous entry, I wrote 2 long entries that, when I tried to submit them, were “timed out” or “the page had expired” or some such similar thing. So I’ll try to remember to highlight and copy before I submit. A man who claimed to be Jamie Finlayson called me last night (Friday, Sept. 22, 2006) around 8:00 p.m. He claimed to have gotten my name from our local LifeWay store. (He probably got it from the local yellow and white pages.) He said that he was looking for an independent Baptist church (and I am an independent Baptist pastor–Falls Road Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, ). So I began to talk to him about our church. It didn’t seem that our ministry would be a good fit for him due to music. So he asked if I knew of any churches that would be good for him. I began to try to help him with this, when he all of a sudden switched topics to his surgery on Saturday (today) at our local hospital (Nash). He said he was a double amputee with both feet missing and was going in for more surgery. He said his mom lived in Wilson (a nearby city). He said that he was a member of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA–Dr. Falwell’s church. He was familiar with Rick Warren. Said he’d met him3 times but differed with him on his philosophy. I told him that was odd since his view of music–he claimed to be an accomplished keyboardist, too–and Rick Warren’s appeared to be the same. It was about then that he switched to the surgery discusion. Mr. Finlayson said he just wanted to have someone pray with him. He didn’t come out and ask me to pray with him, but it seemed obvious that he wanted me to so I offered. He said he’d like that and that he had called Thomas Road to see if they thought he should call me. They assured him, he said, that I would pray with him, so he called. (He also claimed to be familiar with an independent church that was formed out of Thomas Road when Thomas Road joined the SBC. I know of no such church.) So I arranged to meet him at 9:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, his choice of location. I found this odd because my caller ID showed that he was calling from the Courtyard by Marriott in Rocky Mount. We hung up, and I called our music pastor, Brent Brondyke, to meet me at Holiday Inn at 8:55 p.m. It was then I had the thought to google him and I found your blog. THANK YOUR FOR YOUR BLOG ON THIS MAN. I found the same story as I had just been told and just couldn’t believe it! I called my wife in from the other room to have her read part of the blog. Then I called Brent and told him we weren’t going and that I was calling a policeman friend who is a member of our church. My friend, who was off duty, had another officer call me. I decided to file a report with the Rocky Mount City Police so that there would be something of record on this guy in our town. When the officer asked me if had asked me for any money, I had to honestly answer “no.” So he didn’t break any laws. But I was allowed to file the report anyway, so I did. I kind of doubt there can be much follow up on Mr. Finlayson, but I thought it was worth a try. I then called a pastor friend across town to warn him about this guy, and I’m contemplating a letter to the editor to inform as many churches as possible in our town as to the latest shyster to come along. It really is sad. I had planned to go and pray with this man. I, too, thought there was a genuine need and was willing to leave my wife and kids on a Friday night to minister (isn’t this why we’re called “ministers”?). But I decided against it, which to me (and certainly my wife) seemed to be the course of wisdom. Hope this helps. Thanks for helpling me. Blessings!
September 26th, 2006 at 3:08 pm
He is now in Raleigh…asking for deacon or elder. Won’t give his last name on the phone (I think to avoid internet searches). Same frostbite story…also mentioned a mom in the area.
Still using the same name. We gave him a restaraunt gift certificate.
September 26th, 2006 at 7:54 pm
Before he went to Raiegh he got us (Stoneybrook Church of Christ, Wilson, NC, Sept 24). Lost feet in frost bite hiking trip last November. Called Sunday morning. Two of our guys went out to pray with him and brought him back to Sunday School and Church. He told us his mother was in Garner and he was to have surgery at Wake Med on Weds. We took him to Raiegh (sorry Dave P), got him checked in a hotel near Wake Med and gave him $20 for food. I tried to check up on him today but Wake Med had no record of him. We went with the Love of Christ. Maybe he’ll catch it one day (love) if people keep sharing it with him. It would be interesting to know his real story.
September 28th, 2006 at 12:35 pm
Well, I discovered today that I was scammed with the rest of you. James? called me last week and told me that no churches would help him. His mother lived in Washington, NC and he was supposed to have surgery to amputate his leg. He just needed a ride somewhere. I met him at Ruby Tuesdays (he had quite a few gift certificates). He needed a ride to Rocky Mount where a friend had a truck waiting for him. He never asked for money, but inferred he would be needed some help after surgery. He said he already had an apartment.
I guess the fact that he never asked for money gave him some credibility in my mind. I never gave him money but offered to help when he came back. Apparently, he went on to see other people in Rocky Mt. and then came across my friend Mark who shared his story with me today.
He also has a lot of knowledge of different churches. Obviously, he has done his homework. Maybe the fact that he is a liar will not take away the blessing God will give us for helping.
October 19th, 2006 at 10:56 am
Thank you for your site. It certainly helped this morning! Our church gave our phone number to “Jim Finlayson” when he called asking for someone to pray with. My husband is involved in our Men’s Ministry and leads a Men’s Bible Study.
Jim claimed the same basic story as many have shared, that he was awaiting surgery on his prosthetic feet and had just moved to the Charlotte area from San Diego. He just wanted someone to come to his motel and pray with him.
My husband canceled an appointment and headed out the door as I began to pray. However, the Lord gave me a spirit of uneasiness so I decided to Google the name and came across your blog. Upon reading the entries, I immediately contacted my husband and passed on the information. Rather than meet “Jim” he is contacting the Sheriff (who is a member of our church) to make him aware of the situation.
Again, thank you for making us aware of this scam artist and we must get the word out to as many churches as possible.
October 24th, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Well, Jimbo is in Charlotte now (10/23/2006). He called our Church office, but did NOT want to talk to a pastor, so I was asked to follow up. It was the same story you all reported. I offered to pray with him on the phone, but he didn’t want that. What he wanted in fact was quite vague and I couldn’t get it out of him. Wants to get together, but doesn’t want to pray? Also, questions I asked got strange, ambiguous answers. He obviously wanted me to meet with him in person, but for what purpose? He didn’t want to reveal the money angle until I met with him, apparently. Anyway, I felt it was a scam, and eventually he said “God Bless” and hung up. That’s when I searched the internet & found this site. Pray for Jim that he will me the One person who can really meet his need.
October 26th, 2006 at 7:07 pm
This entire blog is creeping me out. Today (10/26/06), I was on the porch at the Caribou Coffee on East Blvd. in Charlotte and met ‘Jamie’. He struck up a conversation and soon got to ’spiritual issues’. He knew my pastor (turns out he just called him Sunday morning with the same story), threw around RICK WARREN of the Purpose-Driven Life book, said he was on the national board of directors of Promise Keepers, knew Glenn Wagner, etc., etc. He said he had come here from Fort Collins, CO for surgery on his foot at CMC and was goign in tomorrow - 10 day recovery. He had suffered frostbite (told me it was on CNN) on a trip to Long’s Peak, CO, and that his mother lived in Gaffney.
He told me that he wasn;t asking for money, just to pray together, then proceeded to ease into asking for $20 to ‘get through the next 24 hours’. I offered, finally, to buy him dinner at Bruegger’s, which he declined. I offered to take him to Social Services to get food stamps - “I don’t work through agencies”. I offered to hook him up with Loaves and Fishes, no go.
He just wanted money. And, he was trying to guilt me into ‘blessing him’ and that God would therefore bless my business. What a creep.
We ended up parting company, then I called my pastor to see if he knew Jaime. He had a confusing conversation with him on Suday morning on the phone, but got the same impression I did. Then he called me back with this blog link.
I came back to Caribou Coffee and here he was. I confronted him directly as he was about to scam another couple. He immediately got up - never saw a ‘crippled guy’ move so fast - and I followed him out. I told him it was disgusting to use God’s name and scripture to scam people. I also told him that if I ever saw him in this neighborhood again, I would immediately call the police and have his fingerprints run through NCIC.
I guess we won’t be seeing Jaime, or whoever he is, in Dilworth anytime soon.
No wonder we get so cynical about people needing a handout. I do know what it’s like to be hungry (lost my job living in DC and was evicted two months later), and people like this really get me angry.
Be as gentle as a dove and as sharp as a serpent. Good advice.
Jeff A. Gregory
704-806-6567
Feel free to give me a call - I would love to get him the real help he needs.
P.S. For a guy with two proscethic (sp?) feet, he was practically running down the sidewalk.
November 13th, 2006 at 11:27 pm
Mike Terry-Aiken-South Carolina- date:11-13-06
James, Jim, Jamie (JJJ) Finlayson went to Augusta Georgia today on the pretense he was going to the Medical College of Georgia to speak with a doctor about surgery for his foot. However, after getting to Augusta, he told the driver to take him to Applebees where he would meet his doctor! Go figure!!! The Applebees he thought was at a certain place had shut down about a year earlier. After getting directions to the new location, he was dropped off there. By the way, it was reported that he was close to being drunk. This guy knew all kinds of information about Promise Keeepers, Rick Warren and Saddleback, Fuller Theological Seminary and a sister Christian church in Bolder Colorodo. He would make a great undercover agent but I suspect he wouldn’t pass the background check!!!
January 25th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Jim is now in Conway, SC. I am hopeful that my attempts to get the word out to the Emmaus community have slowed down his efforts. He’s STILL about to have surgery! I even contacted the local authorities. He has contacted over a dozen people but none have visited that I know of.
May 9th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Interesting blog. We are a downtown church (across the street from the bus transfer station) so we used to get a lot of people with very long stories. The churches in our town all work together to help people in need. We don’t give out cash or gift certificates. We fill out a referral form and send them to a program CARELINK which is run through the Salvation Army. They help people that we refer with food, rental assistance, whatever they need. The SA also makes sure that the people are really in need, are accountable for what they’re getting, and hooks them up with community services that are available. I’m not particularily invested in whether or not the person is telling the truth, what bothers me is that if they launch into a 30 minute story about how they need help they’re really taking up too much of my time. I usually complete a referral and try to have them done in my office within 10-15 minutes. People who need assistance will get it, scamers are weeded out, and I don’t loose worktime doing a social worker’s job. Once the word spread on the street that churches in the area use this program, scamers have really left our town alone.
May 31st, 2007 at 8:01 pm
James or Jim is currently working the Albany, GA area with a frostbite story.
June 21st, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Mr. Finlayson is not working the Atlanta area with the exact same story.
June 21st, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Oops sorry for the typo… should read NOW
June 23rd, 2007 at 9:13 am
James is active in Gwinnett county, GA as of June 2007. He hangs out near Gwinnett Medical Center attempting to call Christians to his aide for prayer of his impending amputation. One restaurant he frequents is Loco’s.
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:46 am
James is active in Dawsonville, GA as of July 1st when he showed up at our church, Skyline with the same story. Here is a portion of the email our pastor, Brandton Wood sent us last night:
We had a con man show up at Skyline on July 1st —-he was seeking financial assistance. My heart was shut to him for 2 reasons… (1) he seemed indifferent –even after hearing a powerful message from Rom. 8:1-11. (2) his breath smelled of alcohol (I guess I’m too Baptist in my roots to help someone asking for money while they have alcohol on their breath)
I noticed a few of our people passing cash along to the guy. Not me… I felt like I was a bit low on mercy until a guy in our church did a web search and confirmed that this guy was a con artist. The guy told us he had been in Max Lucado’s church for years and that he was going to Northside Hospital for an amputation of his leg due to frostbite he’d sustained while hiking. He told Katie he’d been with Saddleback in California for a long time.
………………………………..
Just so you know he looks a bit more weathered and is hair is longer now.
Thanks for this blog.
July 11th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Jim is in Canton GA as of today, July 11 2007. Same story as everyone above. I did not give him anything except of my time and a ride to O’Charlie’s. I’m glad to hear that he is not losing his leg tomorrow.
July 12th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Jim is active around the Riverstone area of Canton, as of this afternoon. Matter of fact, I put him up in room 214 at the Holiday Inn Express. He’s running the same story. I just called the HIE and they are giving him the boot. My book says if you don’t work, you don’t eat. Also could just as well read if you don’t work, you don’t sleep in a kingsize suite.
August 8th, 2007 at 9:58 am
…and in Tuscaloosa, AL on 8/7/07. This is no way for a child of the most high God to have to live. he knew everything about “progressive churches of Christ” all over the nation. We paid for a room for a night “before the day of the surgery” God Bless him for being one of His creatures, if for nothing else.
September 15th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
This guy is nothing but a slick talking con man who takes advantage of most Christian’s propensity to engage in unsanctified mercy and not speak the truth in love to this brother. The truth is that he suffers as a thief (1 Pet 4:15), and everyone’s taking mercy on him allows him to rob the Kingdom of resources that could be better used for those who are truly in need. He has a hard heart capable of asking for your best prayers because he knows it will make you feel better about his getting over on you when it is all said and done. It’s a shame this website is not branded on his forehead so all of you could be forewarned, and not have to console yourselves with, “Well, better to err on the side of compassion…” Better to hold the brother’s feet to the fire in this life than in the next, I say. Spread the word on this bum, and do honor to the Kingdom.
October 1st, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Well, he got me, too, just this past Sunday (10/1/07) in Murfreesboro, TN. He identified himself as Jamie Finlayson and used the same hospital/amputation story. We had just completed a wonderful Unitarian service on Sacred Hospitality, and in the middle of Joys and Concerns he brazenly spoke up from the back of the room telling us of his coming amputation — I was so moved, I lit a candle for the guy! Later even a got him a hotel room (for $107!)
Like many of the above folks, I don’t feel angry or ripped off…I ‘m just amazed at his bold, straight-faced lies. I had never met a real sociopath until I met Jamie Finlayson…and I got to thinking how sad and lonely life as a grifter must be. One lie after another, another chump to find in the next nameless town. So, I was the chump this time. Which, as I said, is fine.
I wish I could have helped this guy…but now I know grace is not enough to reach the corroded, lost soul of Jamie Finlayson.
Bob Pondillo
Chair/Chaplain
Unitarian Fellowship of Murfreesboro, TN
http://www.unitarianfellowshipofmurfreesboro.org
October 1st, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Note: The above incident happended on Sunday, 9/30/07. I posted the comment 10/1/07.
BP
December 11th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Well, today he’s a Lutheran in Dalton, GA, preparing for surgery today or tomorrow and hanging out at Applebee’s. Same story–long history of affiliation with Lutheran churches in another part of the country, name-dropping, frostbite injuries to his feet with impending amputation. He never asked for money, although he told me how hard up he is. I prayed with him and he said he’d call me from the hospital.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Well he is now in Prattville, AL. He is going by the alias of Morgan Finalyson. Same story about being frostbiten on a moutain in CO with a total of 8 elders on a hiking trip. Same MO of hospital. I met him in a public place with another elder from the church. He actually prayed with us. I told him I did not feel that we were supposed to give him anything, but the other elder with me said lets get him a hotel room. He had beer on his breath that he was trying to cover, but I did not pick up on it until late. He had no other clothes on him and claimed to be set up in an apartment in Prattville as well. I called a police friend of mine. He said chalk it up to experience.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
One more thing. This guy claimed the same mom story above and name dropped only people that he knew you could not get on the phone. I called one person he name dropped why we sat there. You could tell that shook him a little. He had long hair by the way.
January 7th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
His real name is Morgan Finlayson and he grew up in BUllock County, Alabama but has been gone many years. I think some of his family still lives here.
January 8th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
We encountered this guy before Christmas here in Rome, GA. He gave us basically the same stories, but he said he was from Adairsville, GA and that he shoed horses. How do you know that this guy was from Bullock County Alabama? What city is located in Bullock County? Thanks for any information.
Eddie
January 8th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Based on the last post I thought you might want to know more about what he told us about his supposed AL home. He indicated that he was from Union Springs, AL. He said that his 80 year old mother still lived there. I asked about his father, but he indicated that he had passed. I also asked how he knew Andy Stanley, one of the names he dropped. He then stated he grew up in Atlanta as well. He told us that he was going to live in Prattville and drive to Union Springs. He also said that he was supposed to speak in March at North Point in ATL. Dumb me, but still I was listening and asking lots of questions. He also indicated that he had some siblings. I called the one name he name dropped while we sat there and it disturbed him to the point he went to the restroom. It was after that when I smelled alcohol on him. He spoke down to me often as well because he said he was 20 years my senior. He indicated that he was 52. By the way, the other elder with me still went back, just in case, the following morning to get him for church as we agreed to with him. He was not there. Anyway, not sure what this might do to help, but I figured someone might like to know.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Have tried to get a message through but “comment code” was not correct.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Discovered what to use for “comment Code”.
I knew Morgan when he was growing up in Inverness,Al, a small community 11 miles from Union Springs. His mother lives in Brundidge, AL and he has one sister who lives in Opp and two brothers who live in Montgomery. He has always been a compulsive liar and told my husband just recently that there was always two sides to everything we had heard about him. Too bad people can’t be forewarned about him.
January 9th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Wow, when I saw the pictures and the comments I knew immediately that it was my chilhood neighbor, Morgan Finlayson!!! Yes, he grew up in Inverness Alabama, close to Union Springs. What a character. Strangely enough, Morgan spent several years going to church with my older brother in Troy Al and seemed to have been trying hard to do right for a period of time. But then he moved away and I never heard from him again. I heard he was a ski instructor out West. Perhaps how he got frostbite! Compulsive story teller and convincer. Fast as lightning and could outrun all us other kids on those feet while we were on our bikes. Vulgar language and would not hesitate to do or say anything. Has 2 brothers and one sister. If anyone sees him, tell him his ole neighbor, Ken, says to stop with the stories and get a job!!!
January 18th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Well, Morgan, James, or Jim has made his way to Pelham, Alabama (he’s going by Jim today). Jim is using the same story - wanted to meet, not a pastor, but an elder (I’m assuming because he knows that a lot of pastors have seen this kind of deception before and already have our red flags up), and said he was going to have yet another leg amputated. I was on to him because he said he came from a church in Colorado that I found out did not exist, and there were just too many inconsistencies…so I Googled his name - and am thankful to David for this blog. Brothers, we are not called to be doormats, but to reflect the character of our Lord, who, in studying the Gospels, we find wasn’t passive and wimpy, but forceful, cut and dry, and firm when He needed to be. Yes, it’s good to witness to everyone, and to show the love of Christ, but if this man has for years been purposefully deceiving Christian leaders using prayer, speaking Christianese, and the vehicle of the church to do so, that is the worst kind of deception. Trying to woo this man to salvation isn’t the right approach(as a few entries above seem to think) - he isn’t compelled or changed by open hearts - he takes advantage of them.
January 29th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I got a call from Jim Finlayson this morning with the same story. He gave me his name over the phone but I didn’t Google him until I got back from meeting with him. When I met with him, I had another brother from the church show up as well, but Jim asked him to leave as the prayer requests he had to share were only for me due to things happening in his past. After telling me a variation of the same story he uses on everyone, he got down to business by asking me what God would have me ‘bless’ him with. When I tried to call my wife to ask her if we should help, he got very agitated and said his story was for my ears only. When I explained that I didn’t make decisions about giving out or spending money of the amount he seemed to need without agreeing to do so with my wife, Jim got very agitated. After several more attempts to get me to give him some kind of financial blessing, I told him that unless I could discuss it with my wife, the best I could do was offer to take him out to lunch. He refused, we prayed and parted ways. Then I find this online about him. Thank God for his mercies in protecting me from a scam artist.
Now I have another soul to pray for though!
January 29th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Finlayson is working the Gardendale and Fultondale Alabama area. Thankfully, our Men’s Ministries Director saw the deception early.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:13 am
Recently, I have received two different phone calls attempting to verify the story being told by Morgan Finlayson (aka, Jim, Jamie, James (has used James Morgan). The reason that I was called is because he was using my name in an attempt to gain some credibility with other preachers who know me. A good con man uses any information he has to try to gain an advantage. As others have said, he did grow up in Bullock County, AL. I went to school with him and we were in the High School band together. In fact, those are the two facts he has tried to use to get money from unsuspecting brethren. As a teenager, I worked with one of his brothers. He comes from a good family. It is sad to hear about the life he is living.
February 13th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
For information purposes. Jamie Finlayson is in Decatur, AL as of today. (Feb 13, 2008) He gave me the same basic story as above — but after setting him up in a room and doing some research after getting back to the office — I discovered that JF is a con. I and the Decatur City police went back to the hotel and I canceled the room — and after the DCP ran JF for warrants — he was kicked off the premises. I have to be honest — if I could have sworn out a warrant against Mr. JF (of whatever his name is) I would have.
February 24th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Mr. Finlayson conned some of our church guys, same way, slight variation in the story, into two free meals and a night a Madison, AL, motel last night. He came to church with us this morning, but after lunch when we were to take him to check in to “physical rehab” at Huntsville Hospital (he lost his feet in an auto accident, and was expecting a $30K settlement check on Tuesday), he had some story why he couldn’t go there yet….and when the Downtown Rescue Mission was suggested, he adamantly refused. Somebody dropped him off at Appleby’s on North Parkway early this afternoon, where he was going to try to call his mother in Cullman, or a cousin in Scottsboro, to help…….I had tried to google him yesterday but had an incomplete last name (Finley, and wasn’t sure how to spell it). Someone asked him to write down his name this morning, and with the corrected version, I found this site……called Madison PD, but they said we’d have to file charges against him for theft by deception…..maybe we should, but somehow that doesn’t seem right, either……Another twist to his story I don’t think is mentioned here is that he claims to be a farrier, and had a job lined up with a man who has Tennessee Walking horses here in North Alabama…..Best I can say is that he heard an awesome message of the hope of the Gospel here this morning, and that another group of folks is praying for it to sink into his heart!
March 4th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
He’s working Calhoun County in Alabama right now. He sure knows how to sling around Episcopalian terms and names. I wonder how many denominations he’s fluent in, without getting the message from any of them?
March 9th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Morgan Finlayson is alive and well. This weekend he is making the rounds in Auburn, AL. He called me last night, March 8, 2008 at about 7PM and wanted me to meet him at a local tavern for prayer. I met him and spent about an hour with him.
After I listened to his story about his frostbitten legs and impending surgery, we prayed together. He did not ask for money, but it was obvious from his story and comments that he was expecting an offer of help. He said he had an apartment here, but was not able to have the utilites turned on yet. He also said he had not had anything to eat for 2 days. He was very fluent in all aspects of church of Christ history. I got him a room at a local motel for the night, and he was supposed to come to church this morning, then we were to take him to the hospital
after lunch. He did not show up for worship, but I have learned already that he visited another church in town today. He related his story and needs to them.
March 10th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I am President of the Lee County Gideon’s and recieved a call this am from Morgan
James with the same story he had told Tom Padgett(who I know). I was set to carry Morgan to Eufalua, AL to go into the Hospital tomorrow Morning. The Auburn Police came by and suggested to Mr. Finlayson that he hit the road, which he did. I am fortunate that I did not help him any more than a cup of coffee at EAMC.
I have called the Opelika PD and the Lee County SO about Mr. James of what ever his name is today. He goes by Morgan Finllayson as well as Morgan James as well as Morgan Jamie as well as Morgan John. Please be aware of this snake in the grass.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
The story continues. I met a pastor today and told him of Morgan James and he in shock told me that he had been called by Mr. James and went to meet him but he did not show(Morgan James) The Opelika Police Dept and the Lee County SO is out looking for Mr finlayson or James as he is using today. I hope he has left town but be very cautious with this snake. There is no truth in him.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
P.S He now has long blond hair.
May 28th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Morgan Finlayson (aka James, Jamie, Jim) has surfaced again. This time on May 23, ‘08 at Intown Community Church (PCA) on LaVista Rd., Atlanta, GA. Not knowing any of the background found in this search (my circumstance gave no opportunity to do any inquiry while I was trying to help this scoundrel), I did what seemed compassionate and Christ-like by having lunch with him and a Deacon
from my church ($20.) then got him help from the Deacon’s Fund ($50.), and then got him a room for the night ($71.82) on my credit card.
As a Stephen Ministry Leader you’d think I’d be smart enough to figure this scamer out. I humbly admit I was flim-flamed trying to be compassionate as I thought Jesus would be. I really believe God heard my prayers with Morgan even though the facts he gave me were wrong. Will God use those prayers to remind him that someone cares for a liar and cheat like him? Jesus is a gracious care giver to depraved sinners like we all are!
So, let’s pray that he will repent of the error of his way and turn to Jesus for mercy and forgiveness. Maybe it will take some jail time for Morgan. The sooner the better for the sake of the still unscamed. Brothers and sisters, be alerted to him!
June 14th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Wow. Just got through reading all of the comments. Hee-haw on my part. Jim Morgan, as it were, is resting cozily at the Jamison Inn in Newnan, GA tonight and dreaming about tomorrow morning’s biscuits and gravy that he seemed to know all about. At this point, it looks like we will be dining together. Hopefully, my $20 is still intact.
I am a slow typist and highly annoyed at this point, so I am going to just type out some key words that he said to me that will match the stories above: Jim Morgan, ferrier, mother on a missionary board, Saddleback, Rick Warren, late Friday, didn’t necessarily ask for money, Colorado, Gideon, local guy, knew a lot of names, apartment ready but doesn’t have utilities hooked up yet, Promise Keepers, prosthetics rehab starting tomorrow. Oh, this is too good so I have to type it out. The story that I got on the feet was that he was on a horseback trip with the elders in CO and the horse reared up in the river and crushed his feet on the rocks. Rich. Couldn’t have walked out of Applebee’s any slower. May test the former neighbor’s claim above and challenge him in a 60 yard dash…winner keeps the 20. Will keep ya’ll posted on that. By the way, this site just made it into my favorites list. I am so intrigued by this guy, his stories and his deception(the least of which being his self-deception.) I’d really like to hear more insights into other folks’ reactions and conversations with the Lord after being so deceived by someone so well versed in “churchspeak” and seemingly in need. I am one our church’s new men’s ministers and the Lord has really been working on me lately about serving others. So there sits Jimmy boy in my car talking about his biggest problem with Southern Baptist is the lack of love that we show each other. My initial reaction of “hey pal, what does it look like I’m doing here” was quickly redirected to a SS lesson that I have taught about love in the Bible being more of an action verb than an emotion. That lesson coupled with John 15’s revealing of Jesus’ commands to his disciples to love one another was overpowering. After this experience the lesson hasn’t changed, but hopefully my discernment will. It has to be noted that I have been praying fervently lately for the Lord to make me into a spiritual warrior. The equivalent of a Maximus or William Wallace. I expected some chinks in the armor, but ouch. Am I missing a piece of armor? Belt of Truth maybe? Was I not in tune with the Holy Spirit as I thought I was ministering to this man? One thing I did notice from the above posters who were not deceived was that many of them had another brother at their side. Boy, there’s a lesson for men’s ministry on the isolation of men in our church’s.
Pretty long post for a slow typist, so I’ll sign off for now and get ready for my parking lot race in the morning. Not sure who owns this site, but Thank You!!! If nothing else this has been therapeutic, but I sincerely hope that it will spark further conversation on the subject and others’ reactions to the deception. I’m not joking about this being in the favorites. I’ll be back and hopefully with some updated pics of the scammer. By the way, he currently has brown hair over the ears with a mustache.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Like Rob, this site is on my favorites list and every couple of weeks I check in to see what Jamie/James/Morgan/Finlayson has been up to. He contacted our church in Raleigh, NC, the summer of ‘06 and I have been following him ever since. Our story is the same as most of those posted, although by the time he called us he was already checked into a very nice hotel room for the night and was only looking for a meal. Our youth pastor and I met with him. All he got was a sincere prayer and a ride to the local Christian bookstore where he was supposed to meet someone from the Gideon’s. This guy is amazing! I add my thanks to the person who maintains this site.
June 18th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
We just encountered Jamie Finlayson in Newnan, GA. Same story, second verse. This time the amputations were due to a horse riding accident and he was supposed to be going into physical therapy rehab in nearby Peachtree City this week for about 10 days. I thought I had asked the right questions but I guess I didn’t ask enough. I just wanted to let anyone nearby who might be looking himup that he is in the area and working hard. Thanks for this website.
July 7th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
same story here.. frost bite ..took off shoe to show me his amputated foot. Our assoc pastor received a call ..same thing new everything about Methodist church. wanted to get envolved in the Kairos ministry (served on over 20 walks)
seemed very knowledgable about Kairos and Emmaus. We put him up in a motel brought him to church next morning and then took him to lunch and dropped him off at Carribou coffee shop. He was awaiting for a close friend from a local church…
July 8th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Jim is now in Woodstock, Georgia.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:59 am
This man was in Woodstock, GA on Sunday, July 6. He contacted our minister, came to worship and a fellowship dinner that evening, got a room at the motel from our benevolence deacon. Same story as others have heard…
July 11th, 2008 at 10:21 am
He has been in Canton, GA off and on since July 4th, contacting deacons at 3 or more churches. He did get food money and possibly more. Same stories about his foot. He needs prayer but not for his foot.
September 17th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
He’s working the churches in Manhattan, KS, right now with all the same lies.
September 19th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Yes Jim is in Manhattan. Right now he is in the Riley County Police Department awaiting charges of theft by deception. If anyone in Manhattan has had contact with “Morgan” please contact me at 785-537-2112 ext. 2623.
Rather than enabling him to continue this lifstyle, lets hold him accountable and encourage him to work. His sins are finding him out.
September 24th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Just an update from my previous posting. Jim was charged by RCPD with Theft by Deception. Other jurisdictions should consider this. Using this blog as additional evidenc will show his intent to decieve and clear intent to evoke sypmpathy thereby elliciting money, goods and services from others, all based on deception. I just learned that after jim was charged with this he showed up at another area church and reported that he needed to get to Salina for surgery. He was eventually taken to Topeka hwere he was to meet with a friend who allegedly would drive him to Salina. People from the church bought him two meals and drove him to Topeka and paid for a hotel there. I suspect this his attempt to leave Manhattan so as to not answer to his charges.
That is fine, I do not want him in jail, scamming the public with various illnesses and medical problems that we all would have to pay for. Now, if he fails to appear in court, a warrant will be issued and hopefully he will never return to the Kansas area to prey on us. If every where he goes this is done, then he will be pretty limited in where he can move about and prey on folks, or end up getting his act together.
September 29th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
“Jim Morgan” is now in the Andover,KS area with tales of feet amputations due to frostbite which occurred during a Promise Keepers mountain hike two years ago. He entered my business and first spoke with my co-owner asking if any Promise Keepers men were present. As my partner spoke with him they walked to the rear of the business where I was working. He claimed to be a messianic jew, and offered several critical comments regarding Baptists (which we are). As we spoke I became cautious of him through long experience with such types. When I told him that I was a former state trooper and law enforcement instructor he said that he didn’t wish to talk with me and should have stuck with my business partner. I had already detected the odor of alcohol on his breath and his eyes were glazed and red. He never asked for anything other than prayer, but spun a tale about having a local apartment (he couldn’t tell me the address) without utilities. The only thing he seemed honest about was his distrust of any law enforcement types. He attempted to show humility as several dollars were passed his way, but it was no surprise when he took it. He doesn’t like being quizzed about drinking and substance abuse issues!!!!
Just a heads-up for others in central Kansas.
October 5th, 2008 at 12:15 am
An older friend in Wichita called me a while ago and told me of Jim Morgan, a Gideon, from Auburn, AL, who was a partial amputee and was going into the hospital on 10/5 for foot surgery on Monday and asking for prayer. Many common phrases and connections to the ones mentioned above. A needy man - but a con man.