Whitehorse Daily Star

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BEWARE OF RISKS – Gift cards can be used as tools for fraud artists, the RCMP are warning Yukoners. Photo courtesy RCMP

Scammers have struck Yukoners for tens of thousands of dollars

RCMP warning Yukoners of iTunes gift card scams

By Whitehorse Star on May 18, 2018

RCMP warning Yukoners of iTunes gift card scams

Whitehorse RCMP are reminding the public to be mindful of scammers and fraudulent activity,

Several local victims have lost thousands of dollars in recent incidents, police warned this week.

In one incident, two elderly people bought a computer program online – but never received it.

After a few months, the company contacted them with an excuse, indicating that they would be reimbursed.

One person’s bank account was hacked and money was moved between his accounts, giving the impression that he had in fact been reimbursed as promised, police said.

“The individual was contacted again and told too much money had accidentally been transferred,” police said in a statement.

“The caller requested he use the excess funds to purchase iTunes gift cards and provide the activation codes to the caller. The scammer defrauded the individual of $30,000.”

In another incident, someone received a call from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) indicating that she owed taxes following an audit.

The caller demanded that she pay the amount owing by purchasing iTunes cards and providing the activation codes to the caller.

The scammer obtained more than $10,000 worth of gift cards from the individual.

Although not related to iTunes gift cards, a third incident was reported where an individual was contacted by someone requesting her photography services for a birthday celebration, police said.

The scammer then sent her a cheque to pay for the services – but accidentally sent too much money.

“The scammer then asked her to transfer the excess funds to a different account,” police said.

“The individual realized that something was not right and reported it to the RCMP.

“Scammers are always scheming up new ways to take advantage of people. There are many existing scams with variations, and new scams are invented almost daily. The best way to protect yourself is to be informed.”

Signs that something is fishy include:

• The caller will ask you for something like credit card information, money transfers, mother’s maiden name, social insurance number, to deposit a cheque or funds into an account, iTunes gift card verification codes, or other personal information about you or your property.

• The caller will try to stress you out. Scammers create a sense of urgency by demanding quick action or warning that there will be a risk to victims, their loved ones or their property if the caller’s demands aren’t met.

They may impersonate someone and make threats. Scammers are impersonating CRA employees and threatening severe penalties if back-taxes aren’t paid in the form of bitcoin or iTunes gift cards.

“They are impersonating police officers and threatening to charge and arrest people,” the RCMP warned.

“They are also pretending to be relatives in desperate need of financial help.”

Don’t let the phone number fool you, police urge members of the public. Many fraudsters are using a program that shows legitimate phone numbers on caller ID displays, such as local police or the CRA.

The RCMP never collect money for the CRA, nor make arrests by telephone.

If you believe a fraudster is calling you:

• Hang up the phone immediately. It’s not rude, and could help protect you. Report the call to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

• Do not provide the caller with any personal information, including identification numbers, passwords or financial information.

If you have been defrauded, either by providing confidential personal information, financial details, or otherwise co-operating with the callers, contact the police and your financial institution.

If you have not been defrauded, there is no need to call the police.

You can report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by phone at 1-888-495-8501 from Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Yukon time.

Comments (9)

Up 4 Down 0

Simon on May 24, 2018 at 10:38 am

Many assume that people will "google" things like this so they can be informed about scams. In reality, the people who get scammed often aren't the same ones who would think to use a search engine at all. They just trust that the person on the other end of the phone is telling the truth and wants to help them with their computer. It's sadly this innocence and trust in other humans that gets them in trouble.

Up 2 Down 0

Stan Winter on May 23, 2018 at 5:05 pm

If it seems too good to be true be careful, ask for their phone number and tell them your wife or husband or boy or girl works for the RCMP.

Up 2 Down 1

north_of_60 on May 23, 2018 at 1:03 pm

An answering machine stops scammers.

Up 2 Down 0

Guncache on May 22, 2018 at 5:46 pm

Just google "fake id generator". With that you can give scammers all the info they want. They quit calling me. I keep them on the line and keep changing the subject.

Up 5 Down 2

Joe Public on May 21, 2018 at 7:12 pm

Apparently it is widely known that Yukoners are as dumb as a bag of hammers.

Up 3 Down 1

Gary Rondeau on May 19, 2018 at 7:04 pm

Call screening EVERY call works perfectly

Up 4 Down 0

PedroFerrero on May 18, 2018 at 8:55 pm

People just need to go to the several instructive videos posted through You Tube, searching on ‘iTunes scams’. They all lead to one of various dimly-lit grubby offices ( usually in Bangalore or thereabouts). If they call, and you have the time , just go along with their requests, and string them along , taking care to give them totally false and incoherent credit card numbers for about an hour, and put them on hold as go to ‘make a cup of tea’, or the washroom ( ensuring that on your return you provide full graphic details of your bowel problems ), by which time they will start to get insistent and abusive. You will have likely saved them calling a dozen other victims in that time.

Up 4 Down 0

My Opinion on May 18, 2018 at 6:25 pm

Really. People believe that Rev Canada accepts and asks for Bitcoin and iTunes. How gullible can you be.

I watched a local Bank trying to explain to a guy that he was being defrauded and the guy just wouldn't listen because he knew better and was afraid he would lose out on a great deal on a vehicle wrap. Ya can't fix Stupid.

Up 5 Down 0

Thomas Brewer on May 18, 2018 at 4:04 pm

The old adage still has legs... a fool and their money will soon be parted.

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