iTunes Gift Card Scam Hits Woodstock

Wednesday, 12 December 2018 14:43

Woodstock Police are warning the public to never purchase iTunes gift cards over the phone.

WOODSTOCK - Woodstock Police are warning the public about an iTunes Gift Card Scam making the rounds locally.

Someone recently called the iTunes support number they found online after they noticed several unexplained charges on their account. They were then told to purchase several iTunes gift cards and provide the card number to a man claiming to work in the
“iTunes Fraud Department” to remove the charges they noticed on her iTunes account.

This turned out to be a scam and police are reminding everyone to never purchase anything over the phone like this. It doesn't matter if they are claiming to work for iTunes or the CRA. Hang up the phone and report the incident. The only time anyone should use an iTunes gift card is if making purchases from the iTunes, Apple, or App Stores.

What to do if you are a Victim?

Step 1: Gather all information about the fraud. This includes documents, receipts, copies of emails and/or text messages.

Step 2: Report the incident to your local law enforcement. This ensures that your police of jurisdiction is aware of what scams are targeting their residents and businesses. Keep a log of all your calls and record all file or occurrence numbers.

Step 3: Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre toll free at 1-888-495-8501 or through the online Fraud Reporting System (FRS).

Step 4: Report the incident to the financial institution where the money was sent (e.g., money service business such as Western Union or MoneyGram, bank or credit union, credit card company or internet payment service provider).

Step 5: If the fraud took place online through Facebook, eBay, a classified ad such as Kijiji or a dating website, be sure to report the incident directly to the website. These details can be found under "report abuse" or "report an ad."

Step 6: Victims of identity fraud should place flags on all their accounts and report to both credit bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion.