FRAMINGHAM – Framingham Police are investigating an online scam that cost an individual $4,500.
Framingham Police were called to Walmart at 121 Worcester Road in Framingham on December 19 at 11:48 p.m. for a larceny.
Framingham Police spokesperson Lt. Rachel Mickens said it was an “online scam.”
“The victim was instructed to purchase gifts cards to correct fraudulent charges on a credit card,” said Lt. Mickens. “The gift card numbers were given to the scammer.”
The victim loss $4,500.
“Gift cards are for gifts, not for payments. As soon as someone tells you to pay them with a gift card, that’s a scam. Gift cards are popular with scammers because they’re easy for people to find and buy. They also have fewer protections for buyers compared to some other payment options. They’re more like cash: once you use a gift card, the money on it is gone. If someone calls and asks that you pay them with gift cards, that’s a scammer calling. And once they have the gift card number and the PIN, they have your money,” said the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Advice Department.
Scammers may tell you different stories to get you to pay them with gift cards, said the federal agency, but this is what usually happens:
- The caller says it’s urgent. They say you have to pay right away or something terrible will happen. They want to scare or pressure you into acting quickly, so you don’t have time to think or talk to someone you trust. Don’t pay. It’s a scam.
- The…
