The Mill Creek Police Department would like to remind citizens of gift card scams that continue to affect our region. Please educate yourself to help prevent this from happening to you and your loved ones.
Ransomware is a popular scam that is a type of malicious software, or malware, that prevents you from accessing your computer files and demands you pay a ransom for their return. Pressure scams focus on issues such as your family or bank accounts. Once the victim feels threatened, the scammer demands the purchase of large amounts of gift cards to remedy the “issue”. The Federal Trade Commission says Amazon is now the top brand used for impersonation, recently surpassing Social Security Administration and Publishers Clearing House.
The FTC recently said in a news release, “If you find yourself heading to the store to buy gift cards because someone on the phone told you so, stop.” No government entity, tech support, or utilities will ever ask you for payment in the form of a gift card. If the caller threatens you or your family, hang up immediately and call your local police department. These scams are also targeting the elderly, so it is important to have conversations with your loved ones regarding these scams.
If you or any of your family has been a victim of a gift card scam, report it to your local police department and the Federal Trade Commission. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/gift-card-scams
