I met Alex through Christian training network, and over the years contacted him for prayer a few times via social media. Over time I noticed irregular online activity from Alex such as the creation and deletion of multiple Facebook accounts and posting duplicated content.

In November 2025, Alex messaged me requesting a loan of £300 for food and promised repayment within a few days. When I questioned the amount, Alex replied that he needed to pay a bill and that a loan of any amount would be OK. Alex also sent a photo of himself working as a security guard at an Asda supermarket as a way of saying he could pay me back.

The situation felt concerning and raised questions in my mind. The following morning, Alex told me that there was no longer a need for the loan because he had been “blessed” with £50,000!

Only two weeks later, he contacted me again asking for help with £100. When I inquired about the previously mentioned £50,000 and whether it had been a lie, Alex told me I had “failed the test” and that he would have given me £7,000 had I provided the requested funds.

Alex started quoting scripture in an attempt to condemn me for not providing the money. He suggested that I had failed to “go to a deeper level.” I told him that people should not be manipulated into giving money and dismissed his assertion that God was using him to test me.

I told him that, according to my understanding of the Bible, giving is voluntary: each person should give according to what he has purposed in his heart and not by compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. I told him to repent of his behaviour.

I became concerned for others; particularly new believers, who might feel pressured under similar circumstances but not know how to respond. I approached a mutual acquaintance of Alex to raise these concerns but I was dismissed.

Alex later messaged me, calling me “worldly” and a “spiritual baby” for discussing the matter with others. He claimed several people had informed him that I had talked to them about Alex. Alex sent me reports of what they had supposedly said about me. I knew they weren’t true because I only told one person, and I told Alex so.