CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) — Three people living in Chapel Hill lost more than $73,000 in a matter of days. All three fell victim to different scams.
“These scammers are really good. That’s why they keep doing these scams,” Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue said.
Police said the first victim, a man in his 70s, lost $35,000 in what’s known as the gift card scam. The scammer called the victim and convinced him that to resolve an issue with his bank card, he had to buy gift cards and read the numbers off the back. He bought the gift cards at several businesses throughout Chapel Hill over several days, and in total gave the scammer access to $35,000 worth of gift cards, draining his bank account while buying the cards.
The second scam also started with a phone call.
“Portrayed themselves as a friend who was in trouble and they said they needed $18,000 which the senior sent and then the next day call back and said I need another $15,000, still in trouble. The senior sent it,” Blue said.
The victim, a man in his 80s, lost a total of $33,000 thinking he was helping a friend who was in trouble with the law.
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“It’s not that people are dumb, it’s that people are good, and they want to try to do right by their friends and family,” Blue said.
With the first $15,000, according to police, the scammer actually went to the victim’s home to pick up the cash. When it comes to the $18,000, the victim…
