Local Residents Warned Against iTunes Gift Card Scam

Police at Gawler are warning the local community to be alert to scammers after taking reports of an iTunes gift card scam operating in the area.

Unfortunately scams are everywhere, and they target people of all backgrounds, ages and income levels across Australia.

As noted by ScamWatch, scams succeed because they look like the real thing and catch people off guard when they’re not expecting it.

SA Police are reminding the public to be on high alert for any unsolicited or suspicious text messages, phone calls or emails from anyone claiming to be a government agency or service provider who then seeks money to be transferred.

Gawler police have received reports identified as the “Catch-a-hacker scam” – where scammers pretending to be Telstra will ask their victim to help them catch a ‘hacker’ who’s trying to get into their PC or smart devices.

They’ll use this sham story to get the victim to buy iTunes cards as a ‘trap’ for catching the hacker.

Unfortunately the scammer will quickly get the serial numbers for those gift cards and sell them before the victim realises they’ve been duped.

As noted by Apple: ”It's important to know that iTunes Gift Cards can be used ONLY to purchase goods and services on the iTunes Store, App Store, iBooks Store, or for an Apple Music membership.”

Never give your bank details, or transfer money and never purchase iTunes cards for anyone requesting you to do so over the phone.

The public are urged to be careful when dealing with uninvited contacts from people or businesses, whether it's over the phone, by mail, email, in person or on a social networking site.

Make independent checks before providing any money - and when in doubt ring the organisation yourself for confirmation.

For more information about how to protect yourself, please visit the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s ScamWatch website.

Source - SAPOL