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Australia: ACCC warns of iTunes gift card scam

By  |  September 17, 2017

iTunes gift card scammers are swindling hundreds of thousands of dollars from Australian victims.

Cold calling fraudsters demanding gift cards as payment for bogus fines, fees and online security problems have already fleeced almost AU$540,000 (US$431,829) from people nationwide this year, reports to Scamwatch show.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said the tactic was a growing trend, with losses of about $480,000 (US$383,841) recorded in 2015-16.

“Scammers are increasingly getting their victims to pay with iTunes gift cards as they can quickly onsell them and pocket the money,” ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said.

Gift card cons typically involve convincing victims to purchase cards, then read out their serial numbers over the phone.

Full Content: The Sidney Morning Herald

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