This is a new type of scam or con. According to the SEC:
"Affinity fraud refers to investment scams that prey upon members
of identifiable groups, such as religious or ethnic communities,
the elderly, or professional groups. The fraudsters who promote
affinity scams frequently are -- or pretend to be -- members of the
group. They often enlist respected community or religious leaders
from within the group to spread the word about the scheme, by
convincing those people that a fraudulent investment is legitimate
and worthwhile. Many times, those leaders become unwitting victims
of the fraudster's ruse." See the complete SEC alert linked to the
right.