Community Chat

[Love my grandkids]

@jlkz   I'm 75 and this scam has been around for at least 10 years. I'm smarter than the scammers and would never fall for this.

Guess you'll have to chalk it up to lesson learned.

[Carmie]

I got the same type of inquiry from my cousin.  She asked for Amazon gift cards to gift her nephew for a birthday gift.  Her CC were frozen, the e-mail said.

I know my cousin would never ask to borrow money from me, but it was from her e-mail.

I called her to be sure.  She handles the family reunions and had the e-mail address of everyone in our huge family.   It seems everyone on the list received the same e-mail.

I don't know if anyone fell for the scam, but I didn't.

I never send money anywhere to anyone who requests it by mail, e-mail, phone call or text.  You have to ask in person.

I have no problem helping people, but would hate to be ripped off by thiefs.  So far, so good.

[shoesnbags]

Asking for gift cards is a dead giveaway.  You're never, ever supposed to respond to a request for gift cards. 

I remember buying some gift cards at a department store a few years ago and was questioned about why I was buying them.  The sales associate said that they were told to question people because of all of the scams asking people to send gift cards.

[homedecor1]

we got the same request from "our" good friend asking my spouse to do the same as he was not able.

thank goodness I knew it was a scam or he probably would have done it because it was his friends email where it originated.

[qvcaddition]

So sorry.  I never reply to the email for info on my cards.

I got different version of the granmother calls and hung up.

They like to hit us older folks because we are old school and was very trusting back in the day.  We are not stupid, but some believe it.  One wanted me to call the attorney and not to tell his wife or mother.  i laughed and hung up.

He picked a grandson who I haven't spoken to in 4 years. I never hear from the grandkids and thus would not give them money.

[hckynutjohn]

All the people that mean enough to me to gift anything of monetary value, live close enough for me to do it in person.

hckynut 🇺🇸

[webbgarner1]

@jlkz  You should automatically assume that anyone asking for gift cards in these type of situations is a scam and they will gladly take your money.

[Etoile308]

I think there is a special place in hell for these scammers.

[Cats3000]

Someone I knew tried to pull this on me.  I didn't bite.

[chrystaltree]

Sorry but that was 100% obvious that it was scam.  You shouldn't have had to think about it.  You got caught up in your friend's struggles and you just didn't think.  It's sad because was not even a smart scam.  You say college friend so I assume this is not someone you see or speak to frequently.  I would have called her before I jumped to follow a text message.  It's not about being smart.  People get caught up in scams because they don't stop, breathe and THINK.