The relevant video: Why do fraudsters love gift cards?
Evanston, Illinois (Wgn– A woman in Illinois believed that she was sending gift cards to actor Kevin Kostner in the hope of raising her financial portfolio. It turned out that she was the latest victim of to cheat The federal authorities say they have been going on since at least 2018.
According to the police in Evanston, the victim says she sent gift cards totaling $ 62,000 over a period of six months to a person claiming to be Costner via Telegram, an immediate reporter service. The “actor” promised to multiply the victim’s investment.
The authorities said they had never received the promised cryptocurrency.
The coded currency fraud often uses gift cards to deceive the victims, as fraudsters demonstrate as celebrities to attract them to their plans. the Federal Trade Committee (FTC) has previously warned of consumers who have sent money to celebrities online.
“Antichrist fraudCome on many varieties, but they all work in the same way: the deception pretends to be someone you trust to persuade you to send money to them. This is exactly what these celebrities are trying to do, “said FTC.
Evanston and FTC police have offered advice on how to protect the local population from tricks:
- Slow. Before sending money, talk to someone you trust.
- Do some research: Search online for celebrity name as well as “fraud”. Do the same with any charitable institution or ask you for support – and learn more about charitable fraud operationshere.
- Never send money, gift cards, or prepaid discount cards to a person you do not know or not meet – even the celebrities you meet on social media.
- If you send money to a deception, call the company you used to send money (your bank, wire transfer service, a gift card company, or a prepaid debit card company). Tell them that the treatment was a fraud. Ask the company to reflect the treatment, if possible.
- Inform your experience of the social networking site andFTC.
The Federal Trade Committee said: “Some celebrities collect money for legitimate reasons. But you want to make sure that the reason – and the person asking you to support him – are real.”