Consumer Alert
Scammers push people to pay with iTunes gift cards
One thing we know about scammers — they want money, and they want it fast. That’s why, whatever the con they’re running, they usually ask people to pay a certain way. They want to make it easy for themselves to get the money — and nearly impossible for you to get it back.
Their latest method? iTunes gift cards. To convince you to pay, they might pretend to be with the IRS and say you’ll be arrested if you don’t pay back taxes right now. Or pose as a family member or online love interest who needs your help fast. But as soon as you put money on a card and share the code with them, the money’s gone for good.
If you’re not shopping at the iTunes store, you shouldn’t be paying with an iTunes gift card. Other payment methods scammers might ask for include Amazon gift cards, PayPal, reloadable cards like MoneyPak, Reloadit, or Vanilla, or by wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram. Government offices won’t require you to use these payment methods.
If you get targeted by a scam like this, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
Want to know more about avoiding scams? Read How to Avoid a Scam
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In reply to I had the same incident by Ms504
Please report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
So I got a caLloyd yesterday from a person who sounded Indian and called me on a private number. He told I have been pick by the federal government to give me a $9,000 free. I know things like this don't happen like that. So he give me his agent number 1(202)7805594 which was from Washington DC. I called that number and it was a lady, she sounds so convincing and confident in what she's telling me.
She said i all I had to do was to get an iTunes gift that was supposed to be but I had to pay $249 to activate the card and then I could get my money. I told her I dont have a credit card on purpose and as soon as I said that, she said do you have cash and I was like no. So she then told me to call back when I got the money.
Asked her to provide me with website of what she was telling me and she said federalgrant.gov and with the kindividual of person I am I have to research first and find what I need to know. It sounded so good in my ears and I even told them this soundsemester like a scam and too good to be true. She went on saying the federal government pick people base on certain things. But I'm glad I didid not go through with it but instead I stumbled on this website.
In reply to for the past two months these by veronia a
Please report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
In reply to for the past two months these by veronia a
In reply to My 91 yr old father was by Dave B
Apple Customer Support may be able to help you get a refund from the retail card seller. You could contact them again and explain that you have a receipt and police report, and that the funds are on the cards.
When there are funds available on a card, but a retailer refuses to refund, Apple Customer Support may bring the matter to third parties who can contact the retail card seller about the possibility of a refund.
And yes, please report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The details you provide - for example, about the scam call, your report to police and seeking a refund - will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
In reply to The scam: post car on Craig's by CraigsListEbayMotor
I too was scammed today from a company that I have been in a dispute with for the last six months about a refund.
I was told to purchase 4 Itunes cards for $500 each and then the amount they owed me plus the amounts I paid would be loaded to the card. I should have followed my first instinct not to do this, but figured they were finally going to do something about the refund since I had made a complaint to the BBB, the FTC and FCC along with the Attorney General of New York.
Fortunately I was able to contact my credit card company to close this account and stop the charges, but I'm afraid they may already have gotten their money. I have filed another report to the FTC about this company. Beware if anyone from LiveTechOnCall calls about computer support, hang up. It's a ripoff!!!
In reply to I too was scammed today from by Ripped off
Thank you for reporting your complaint to the FTC. The information you give will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
Hi Guys, Recently i have received a call like they he told calling from us ferderal verification department.he took lot of money from through itunes.his name david his no is :518-300-3861
In reply to Hi Guys, by srini
Please report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The details you give will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
In reply to A family member recently by grpm2108
You could contact Apple Customer Support. They may be able to help you get a refund from the retail card seller when funds are still on the cards. Apple Customer Support may ask you to provide a police report and other documents, like a receipt for the cards. Apple may not make refunds directly, but may refer you back to the retailer, and work to contact the retailer about a refund. Please write again if you have questions about this.
Thank you for reporting this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The details you provided will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
In reply to This just happened to my by afk79
Please report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations nationwide.
In reply to Please report this to the FTC by FTC Staff
So this morning I received a threatening call from someone who claimed to be from the IRS. She told me a warrant was issued for my arrest for $3,742.00 in taxes that I owed and that local IRS agents were going to be at my house in the next 45 minutes if we were not able to resolve the situation. I panicked and told her I am a law abiding citizen and this is a mistake.
She proceeded to tell me that the arrest warrant would be lifted only if I made a payment of $1000 right away and to not hang up the phone or tell anyone about what was going on or they would not lift the warrant. I began to cry and let her know I am pregnant and also have a small child at home and that I do not have that kind of money (being a single parent) so she pretended to put me on hold and returned to let me know her investigator will let me send a $250 payment right away so they will know I'm "loyal" and then we would set up a payment plan.
I agreed and asked her how do I make the payment. She made me stay on the phone with her while I got my child in the car and drove to the atm to get the money. (note that it was STORMING outside the entire time) when I had the money She then told me to go to Walgreens and get a "tax pay voucher" also to let her know when I pulled up to Walgreens..red flags started to fly as she kept talking. I asked her if this was a scam and she assured me it was not. I once again told her of my pregnancy and small child.
When I pulled up to Walgreens she told me to get an ITUNES gift card and do not tell the employee that it for for a tax pay voucher because walgreens would charge an extra $50 to do it that way. I automatically went off because I knew then for certain I was being scammed. I cursed the lady and then told her I was calling the IRS and police and reporting her. She hung up on me and when I tried to call back multiple times it was no answer.. Please please please people be aware. And please keep our elders aware of what is going on also. I hope all of these people are caught and prosecuted for what they are doing. They are vicious.
In reply to So this morning I received a by Sara
Thank you for sharing this story so other people can be aware. Please report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The details you give will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
The comments you put here on the blog don't go into the law enforcement database.
In reply to So this morning I received a by Sara
In reply to I am tight with the buck, I by PENNY PINCHER
I"m sorry this happened to you. You can contact the fraud department of the store that sold the cards to you. Tell the fraud department you want to file a report, and want a refund.
You can also contact Apple Customer Support. Apple Customer Support may be able to help you get a refund from the card seller. You could contact Apple again and explain that you have a receipt and police report, and that the funds are on the cards.
Please report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The details you provide - for example, about the scam call, your report to police and seeking a refund - will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
Hi im terrie just got scammed out of 3000 !!i was trying to get a personal loan and the girl wgo called had me use itune cards for wiring transfers for loan app for stae and federal taxes and on and on
i ask for my money back they told me i had to purchase another itune card to pay for my money to be sent back to the bank that didnt happen they called me back after promising me that my funds would go back to the bank they asked for abother itune card for 600 hundred for all the paperwork to be put back together and signed off
so all together i apent 3000 on itune cards !!! They will not give me back my money they say there address is consumer loan dept 800 w 17 th st washington d.c 20006 there number is 1 209 644 2221 ask for rodger or nicole or mark or rick or nelson one of them will scam you !!! Im a honest person on s.s.d get very little income its my fault for going with it but i really did need the 3000 to pay my taxes now i might lose my house which is paid off !!!
In reply to Hi im terrie just got scammed by Rts1984
Please file a report with the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you put in your complaint will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations. You can enter the address, phone number and names that the scammers used.
The comments you put here on the blog don't go into the law enforcement database.
If you're having trouble paying property taxes right now, you could contact your local government and ask if they can help you with a payment plan. If you need to pay state or federal income taxes you can contact those tax offices and ask about a payment plan.
In reply to Please file a report with the by FTC Staff
Bridget,
Apple knows that their iTunes gift cards are being used fraudently in this way -- in effect, they are laundering money -- but they do nothing to stop it. What is their responsibility/liability in this?
Thanks,
MarkS
In reply to Bridget, by MarkS
We appreciate your concerns, but cannot comment on any entity’s possible responsibility or liability in connection with such a scam.
In reply to We appreciate your concerns, by FTC Staff
they call me today and they want me to pay them 1000 for goverment for my SSN and the government only see but can not do anything.
If a lots of people get trap like me who can help them or if they kill themself because of trust a nation in there have the laws and rules that can help people live a good life and good work to have money to servey there family....But nothing like ex:if someone try your name do do bad thing you hear it but you did not do anything to stop that event you have the power in your hands so you will stop or let them do whatever they want to do to trick people around you by your name (lucky my nam is not government)
I cry to much lastnight so now I do not have tears so I only say I will try to get some job and rebuild money for all my bills. Again I FEEL so upsad why nobody help me. DO YOU FEEL reproachful when you have powers in your hands but you just sit there and can not do anything ( I guest)i have no money to pay for my bill now GOD help
My son just got ripped off by the IRS and iTunes gift card scam for $2300. Called Apple iTunes and they said they could not share information about who is using the cards but have the information on file.
When I continued to press, the supervisor stated that they can only release the information to law enforcement. As we all know you need an iTunes account to use iTunes gift cards, why can't the FTC or IRS ask for the information from Apple and follow up with who is accessing the funds?
Since most of the calls are threatening, doesn't it fall under extortion? The electronic transactions can be traced. Even if the cards were used to purchase specific products from iTunes store, they can all be traced and accounts disabled.
In reply to My son just got ripped off by by ripped off
Please ask your son to report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information he gives will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
In reply to Please ask your son to report by FTC Staff
In reply to My son just got ripped off by by ripped off
In reply to The same thing happened to me by zknight.adam
If you tell someone the code on an iTunes card, he can take the value from the card immediately. If you think maybe the scammer didn't use the value yet, contact Apple Support and ask them to disable the cards so the scammer can't use it.
If the scammer already used the value, the money is gone. It's important to report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
In reply to - I just got scammed by some by saam
You can contact Apple Support. Tell them that you have the cards, and the codes were not used. Ask them for help with a refund. Also, go back to the store and talk to the customer service department. You might have to look online for a customer service department email or phone number for the business. Tell them you have the cards and the codes and you want a refund.
It is also very important to report this to the FTC. Go to FTC.gov/complaint and explain what happened. Include all the details you have. The information will go into a database, and law enforcement agencies look at that information.
If the store or Apple will not help you, please send another comment. Your comments help other people know what scammers are doing.
In reply to You can contact Apple Support by FTC Staff
In reply to I called apple support they by saam
You might have to contact the customer service department for the company if the local store will not help you. You can ask Apple Support if they can give you proof that the cards have value if that is what the store wants.
I hope you did report this to law enforcement at FTC.gov/complaint. Your story will help law enforcement know more about this scam, and help with investigations.
This FTC article tells more about making a consumer complaint.
You might use social media to tell your story. Many companies have people who look at the public posts and complaints about their service that appear on social media pages. Your post will be most effective if you use a reasonable tone and explain the problem clearly. To avoid negative perceptions, the company may respond quickly to your problem.
You could contact your local media’s call for action line.