Beware police offering to bail out your friend or relative with iTunes cards

[+jnelsoninjax 12,184]

Scammers are phoning unsuspecting victims and telling them their friend or relative is in jail but can be freed in exchange for prepaid gift cards, Calgary police say.

Dozens of Calgarians have fallen for the scam and the average reported loss is more than $2,500.

Police say 60 per cent of the loses were in the form of iTunes prepaid gift cards. Cards for steam — an online gaming platform — made up 31 per cent of the loses.

The Calgary Police Service says it never contacts family members to free someone from custody, unless they are a minor. Adults who are arrested are given phone access to arrange for bail if required for their release.

As well, bail can only be paid in person at provincial courthouses or correctional centres, police say. And gift cards are not an acceptable form of payment.

So far this year, Calgarians report losing $168,000 through this scam.

In the latest version of this fraud scheme, scammers are often using an online app to spoof the phone number so it appears to be coming from either the police or the person who is supposedly in jail.

Police said the scammers tell their victims to stay on the phone as they go and purchase the gift cards. They then ask for the gift-card activation codes.

Source

[The Evil Overlord 18,442]

I'm a little surprised at this, the first alarm bell raised for me was the whole 'A solution is available in exchange for credit' be it in the form of a gift card or otherwise...

[Depicus 947]

How are these people so stupid ?

[The Evil Overlord 18,442]

8 minutes ago, Depicus said:

How are these people so stupid ?

I am so tempted to say 'because they're Canadian?' but will refrain, as I do not wish to offend anyone.....

[wakjak 19,138]

2 hours ago, The Evil Overlord said:

I am so tempted to say 'because they're Canadian?'

Nah. Alberta is it's own entity. Closer to America than any other province lol.

[FloatingFatMan 18,843]

On 10/21/2017 at 4:36 PM, Depicus said:

How are these people so stupid ?

Sadly, there are mouth breathers everywhere...

 

I find it hard to have any sympathy for anyone falling for such an obvious scam...  I'm more surprised they've managed to survive into adulthood...

[Zagadka 4,093]

Seems legit.

 

We need a culling. Technology is interfering with natural selection.

[+jnelsoninjax 12,184]

10 hours ago, FloatingFatMan said:

Sadly, there are mouth breathers everywhere...

 

I find it hard to have any sympathy for anyone falling for such an obvious scam...  I'm more surprised they've managed to survive into adulthood...

Growing Old is Mandatory - Growing Up Is Optional