Scammers are calling potential victims and asking them to purchase iTunes gift cards, and to send the gift cards’ information to them, in order to receive thousands of dollars in so-called grants that they have been selected to receive, or receive so-called lottery or promotional prizes that they have won. But, once the victims purchase the iTunes gift cards and send the information thinking that they will receive what they were promised, the scammers will use the gift cards themselves or sell them to unwary online users. The victims on the other hand, will not receive what they were promised, will be a few hundred dollars poorer, and left emotionally distress.
Some scammers may also call their potential victims claiming that they owe the government money and threaten legal actions or arrest. The potential victims will then be asked to purchase iTunes gift cards and give the callers the cards’ information over the phone, in order to prevent prosecution or arrest.
Scammers love iTunes gift cards because they can be easily purchased at retailers like Walgreen or Wal-mart, and once the gift cards have been used, it is virtually impossible to trace back to the scammers.
Lottery companies, the government, the banks or other legitimate companies will never ask their winners or customers to buy iTunes gift cards and send the cards’ information to them for payment. Therefore, recipients of phone calls where the callers ask for iTunes gift cards information, should terminate the calls, and if they are threaten by the callers, should contact the police.