{"id":100215,"date":"2023-04-03T16:04:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T20:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/framinghamsource.com\/?p=100215"},"modified":"2023-04-03T18:06:04","modified_gmt":"2023-04-03T22:06:04","slug":"framingham-police-gift-card-scam-costs-individual-1500","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/framinghamsource.com\/index.php\/2023\/04\/03\/framingham-police-gift-card-scam-costs-individual-1500\/","title":{"rendered":"Framingham Police: Gift Card Scam Costs Individual $1,500"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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FRAMINGHAM – Framingham Police is investigating a gift card scam that cost an individual $1,500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scam was reported to Police on Friday afternoon, March 31 by a Spruce Street resident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spruce Street is located off of Brook Street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Victim provided $1500 in gift cards,” said Framingham Police spokesperson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGift cards are for\u00a0gifts, not for payments.\u00a0As soon as someone tells you to pay them with a gift card, that\u2019s a scam. Gift cards are\u00a0popular with scammers because they\u2019re easy for people to find and buy. They also have fewer protections for buyers compared to some other payment options. They\u2019re more like cash: once you use a gift card, the money on it is gone. If someone calls and asks that you pay them with gift cards, that\u2019s a scammer calling. And once they have the gift card number and the PIN, they have your money,\u201d said the Federal Trade Commission\u2019s Consumer Advice Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[broadstreet zone=”59947″]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scammers may tell you different stories to get you to pay them with gift cards, said the federal agency, but this is what usually happens:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. The caller says it\u2019s urgent<\/strong>. They say you have to pay right away or something terrible will happen. They want to scare or pressure you into acting quickly, so you don\u2019t have time to think or talk to someone you trust. Don\u2019t pay. It\u2019s a scam.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    1. The caller usually tells you which gift card to buy<\/strong>. They might say to put money on an eBay, Google Play, Target, or iTunes gift card. They might send you to a specific store \u2014 often Walmart, Target, CVS, or Walgreens. Sometimes they tell you to buy cards at several stores, so cashiers won\u2019t get suspicious. And the caller might stay on the phone with you while you go to the store and load money onto the card. If this happens to you, stop. It\u2019s a scam.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. The caller asks you for the gift card number and PIN<\/strong>. The card number and PIN on the back of the card let the scammer get the money you loaded onto the card. Don\u2019t give them those numbers. It\u2019s a scam. You\u2019ll lose your money, and you won\u2019t be able to get it back.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Only scammers\u00a0try\u00a0to convince you to pay with gift cards, said the federal agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      If you know how to spot their tactics, you\u2019ll be able to avoid the scam, and help others spot and avoid it, said the Federal Trade Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Here\u2019s a list of common gift card scams and schemes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n