Online gift card scam targets Wilkes-Barre seniors on Anthracite Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA – What began as a routine online purchase quickly unraveled into a costly deception after two Wilkes-Barre residents were allegedly targeted by scammers posing as customer service representatives.
The incident was reported Thursday afternoon at a residence on Anthracite Street, where officers responded to a complaint involving fraudulent phone calls and gift card payments. According to investigators, a 64-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman believed they were communicating with representatives from Amazon and Apple while attempting to resolve what they thought was an account issue.
The male victim told officers he had recently ordered an item through Amazon but canceled the purchase after reading negative reviews. When a refund did not appear, the female victim searched online for an Amazon customer service number and contacted one she believed was legitimate. During the call, she provided personal information before later realizing the number was not affiliated with Amazon.
Investigators said the male victim later spoke with the same caller, who claimed there was an issue with the account and instructed him to purchase $400 in Apple gift cards. The gift card numbers were provided to the caller before the victims realized they were being scammed.
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Later that same day, the female victim reportedly received another phone call from someone claiming to be with Apple Security. The caller alleged there had been an attempt to purchase illegal material using her Apple account and said a fraud investigation was underway.
Police said the incident remains under investigation.
Key Points
- Two Wilkes-Barre residents reported an online gift card scam
- The victims lost $400 after being contacted by fraudulent callers
- The investigation into the deception is ongoing
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