Yeah, I mean how could you steal money from the elderly or from anyone? But old people especially I mean some are figting for there lives taking 100's of pills a day that cost them thousands of dollars and all they want to do is buy a gift card to figure out someone stole $500 from them.
Literally dealing with this today with my mom. We need to talk about this more and openly to protect our vulnerable elderly population. I am so glad some people are taking action.
Something like this happened to my grandma about five or so years ago with the scammer saying that my older brother was being held by authorities in some other country. The scammer knew my brothers name and said he needs like $5,000 or so to get get him out. My grandma said I need to speak to my financial advisor which was her son, my dad. She called my dad and asked where my brother was and my dad said he's sitting right next to me. So glad my grandma still had the smarts not to fall for this.
It's not smarts. She should have wondered why some random person was calling her instead of the boy's parents. We really start getting confused when we get older. A woman who had a PhD in some science and who had worked at the White House got scammed out of over half a million by a scam caller. The ruse was laughable, but she fell for it. We have to look out for our parents and grandparents as they age and hope our children will do the same for us. Getting old can be scary.
this happened to my 84 y/o mother about 4 yrs ago but she caught on quick. She had a phone call saying your Grandson is in Jail and needs so $$ for bail, My mom responded I DONT HAVE ANY GRANDSONS and the caller abruptly hung up
Honestly, whenever an elderly person comes into a store and tries to buy hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of gift cards it should immediately set off a bunch of red flags. Ideally all supermarket employees should be trained specifically to spot potential victims of scams like this.
My wife's grandma doesn't even own a computer. If she got one, she could easily be scammed because of her lack of knowledge. Boomers and older are the targets.
In many cases it's plainly ignorance of technology, especially among older people, and I very much do NOT only mean the elderly. There are 40 year olds who still fall for those emails from some prince who'll pay you thousands, after you cash the check and send the him a few hundred.
Great job. Some of these scams are so far-fetched that its hard to believe anyone would fall for them, but the scammers just play the numbers until they can hook someone. Terrific this young woman and her associates stepped in and helped. Unfortunately the scammers will just continue on until they get another hit. Just complete low-lifes.
A cashier at Walgreens and I helped stop an elderly lady from buying 1,000 dollars worth of ITunes cards to help get her grandson out of jail. We gently encouraged her to call her son and make sure grandson was ok....which he was. It was a scam and she was terrified for her grandson, thinking he was in jail. We both talked to her son who promised to monitor her accts for scammers. She was very grateful that her grandson was ok.....and that we stepped in to help her.
my elderly cousin got scammed similarly. was told that her grandson got into a car accident and blah blah blah.. she went to buy a replacement watch (very expensive one) and she couldn't return it. Eventually she got to but had to pay a HEFTY "restocking" fee which is what I think was the scam. She had to change her numbe.r I curse anyone who preys on anyone. They are vile and I CURSE them
These scammers are getting so clever with their methods also in many different ways online through misc phone calls, on dating apps, on many social medias. It's very alarming and scandalously devious. Like this method asking for gift cards and purchasing expensive gifts then get a prize of sorts it's very annoying
its absolutely amazing to me people think a jail would accept gift cards. my friend use to be a cashier as well and had something similar happen. it was a job while he was in school and just so happened to be a criminal justice major. he convinced the lady to call the scammer because they said call if any questions. friend asked for the jail he was in so he could call the prison directly and confirm they were booked. also said bail usually has to be in a cash why are you asking for gift cards and if said person truly is in jail were just going to call a bail bonds company and have them take care of it for us and the person immediately hung up. saved the person about 3 grand
There’s this older man who always comes in my store and buys hundreds of dollars worth of eBay gift cards... I never wanted to be nosey, but I’m definitely asking him next time what he buys them for. Especially since we’ve got a bit of a cashier/costumer friendship now.
Don't ask him what it is for. The scammers are training people now to lie when cashiers ask this question. Ask him, "Is someone on the phone with you right now?" or "Is someone threatening you to buy these cards?"
These scammers threaten these elderly ppl in all diff ways, especially that they will empty their bank acct if they don’t get the cards it’s pathetic, I watch Scambaiters on RU-vid & have seen all the diff scams in real time.
I don't mind being asked when I go in I usually get $700 or more but I legitimately use mine on Amazon and not everyone does so it doesn't hurt to ask and it might help
@@morganflaherty9552 I get cards for my grandkids, and especially Christmas I but alot of gift cards, they just get me to read a print-out on a machine at the check-out if I get a certain amount. And I get so frustrated because they have itty bitty warning signs with the gift cards. I have to look for them to find them. I have asked several times to plz make sign BIGGER but nothing has changed. I think ppl need to call corporate offices. And gift cards should be locked up or have a 24 hr hold on them to give victims time to get their money back
I think you should gently ask the elderly man who is buying all the eBay cards if someone he's never met in person is asking for them. Of course, these scammers usually tell their victims not to tell anyone any details.
Old people fall for it because they are usually not tech savvy, lived in a different time when people were more honest, for the most part. Also the elderly are easily rattled. The brain changes as you age. It’s harder to learn new things, it can get mixed up if bombarded with too many things.
Or why aren’t internet companies, I.e google, fb or even stores not protecting our info! My cc was hatched yet again! This last one said it was a tech company, then the same named company said it was a restaurant both in England, I’m in the states! It wasn’t for much, but I’m sick of having to go through the process of getting a new cc!
If someone tells you that they have a refund for you, it's a scam. Do not ever let them convince you to install screen sharing software on your PC. They will try to get you to log into your online bank site and then take over, editing the HTML cache, so it looks like they accidentally gave you too much money and demand you give it back... with gift cards. I've heard the IRS one a few times now. There are massive call centers in India that do this all day every day.
If anyone called and said that they have a warrant out for my arrest and told me the only way they wont arrest me was gift cards I'll tell them to arrest me. My exact words would be "yeah, go ahead, arrest me. I'll do the time. I need a vacation from my life anyways. It's tough being me. Jail sounds like a cruise to me at this point. Send the po po 5-0 ho. I dont give a damn."
A guy said that he got a scam call like this and he told the scammer,"Alright, you got me. I killed someone 30 years ago and have been on the run for all those years. I'm tired of running and am ready to put my conscience at rest and be locked away for my crime!" The scammer said,"Dude, you're scaring me!" And hung up!" 🤣
West Africa, Jamaica and especially India are major hubs for theses scammers. They buy scripts and lists of people of a specific demographic, living in a particular country (e.g. 65+ in Australia). This allow the scammer call centers to work in shifts to reach victims in different time zones.
We need IRS, Amazon, Microsoft and these big companies to run an ad warning that they would never call about returns like these and would request gift card.
There's young people and people who work in anti-fraud who have fallen for different versions of this gift card scam. Also, family members of someone who investigates scams like this fell for it, as there's many different ways they do it, and it makes people think differently out of fear, no matter their age, gender, etc.
I’m so glad that from my youth I’ve never really trusted anybody. I have to know you really really really really well before I trust you. I wish these people did the same thing. How sad
This happened to my Dad. Someone called saying my nephew was in jail and he was at a funeral for a friend, went to dinner, had drinks, and hit a pregnant woman. Luckily, my Dad said he needs to call his Dad. He hung up, called the Dad, who then called back saying grandson was at home sleeping, and never was at a funeral. Soooo sad.
Sophia shows people have a good side.. and kids on computers have an opportunity to play detective and find these low life's and turn them in. But hard to believe how easy it is to use fear to control people...
I get these scam calls, too, I tell the scammers I would love to head to the store & buy gift cards, but I don't drive & I'm completely disabled. I can asked my daughter to drive me there, but she'll just asked millions of questions why I need all these gift cards, she's an attorney that works at a law firm that deals with criminal activities. God bless her soul. 🙏
RE: training I am surprised about how often I go to a new store or restaurant where the employees have no idea how to deal with a purchase that involves a gift card. I try my best to be patient especially when I need to wait for a manager. When the employees are working at a minimum wage job, it seems that they haven’t been trained about how to sell or redeem a gift card.
I'm a senior and have always tried to keep up with technology (although I've never had a cell phone - bad remote location without a good signal). Right at the first few words of an obvious scam call, I tell them to 'f&ck off' and hang up. No, I do not use this word except to scammers! It baffles me that this happens to seniors with their mental faculties still intact though. Are they living under a rock that they do not hear of these scams on the news, documentaries, from family or friends, or from all of the scam baiters on the internet? We also have to keep aware with surveillance video cameras with 2-way audio so we don't just open the door to people too. People are becoming less kind or caring out there and we need to be alert and informed. Be skeptical or get scammed... I'd rather be rude and apologize later if I was wrong.
@@27Killermike I don't even know why I bother to reply to you, but why can't you think that my statements are true, because they are! I feel sorry for someone who doesn't think that at least someone tells the truth except I do keep the F Off to a bare minimum but not when I get bothered by the same scammers for days or at 6 am. Careful... you are starting to appear to be like one of those 'people are becoming less kind or caring' I mentioned above.
They have pulled this on both my parents. My Father nearly stroked out. I was tell them if there is a warrant. They would come to the house. Gift cards?!?!? Please! It just sounds really stupid!
It amazes me when these "I'm your grandson" or "your grandson" needs money and the "grandson's" name is NEVER MENTIONED. WHY doesn't their "grandparent" ask for THEIR NAME? Then if there happens to be a correct GUESS about the name doesn't the "grandparent" CALL the parent to confirm the "grandchild" is really in trouble? It should always be a clue when they say "don't tell anybody about this call." They should KNOW it's a scam. But, older people are more trusting of almost everybody and that's why they pick on the elderly, so sad!
The best thing to do if you have caller id and you don’t recognize the number please don’t pick it up let it go to voicemail and remember that no law enforcement or any company is going to call you and ask for your information or say they have a warrant for your arrest that is a scam and the sad part is that they target the senior citizens and if they don’t have any one to watch over them they will get scammed. This is great that the grocery clerks are trained and to be aware of these gift card scams I think all merchants that sell gift cards should train there employees. I’m so glad they stopped the senior citizen from getting scammed thank you and May God bless and be with you all and your families always Amen. Another way they try and get someone is by calling and they make the number to show that it’s a legitimate agency so you would pick up the phone don’t fall for it remember let it go to voicemail. Stay Safe 👮🏻♂️🚔🚨
I commend Safeway for taking steps to protect the public and the elderly. Why did she not know to call a loved one or someone who could help? I feel for these people with all my heart. I just don't know why people are so naive, which keeps these scams going.
When I worked at Target they trained us to make sure we question people who were buying large amounts of giftcards. "What are you buying this for?" "Has someone asked you to buy these?" etc
The highest domination I've seen for a gift card is between 100-250 dollars. If they're trying to get $2000 worth or more, that's A LOT of gift cards!.
One lady, who was young and very aware of scams, lost $6k in Target gift cards - the scammer made it appear like they overpaid her account, and talked her into buying 6k worth of gift cards to prevent guy from losing his job.
Yes! My brother was given $2000 from his "super hot, rich internet girlfriend," and told to by her $1600 im Steam Gift Cards, which are $50 each, and to save the rest for when she is able to take time off work, for him to fly to her state to marry her. Thank God the Walmart sales lady knew right away what was happening and refused the purchase for at least 18 of the cards. He still believes "the hot girl" though so who knows what will happen in the future. How anyone could be this gullible is beyond me.
When I bought a Google gift card and then I found out it was a scam. Then I was stuck for returning it no refund on the gift card. Think before you buy a gift card, but I have learned my lesson. Don't do it
It is just baffling how many Americans fall for these scams. Most of them come from Nigeria or other foreign countries which means a foreign accent. Another dead giveaway is the fact that it is a phone call and not a letter on official government letterhead. The other problem is the ease at which our numbers are shared over the internet. There should be mandated liability for any company that share information with criminals either accidentally or intentionally. There should also be mandated lengthy prison terms for any criminal that is caught.
I work at a Safeway in Canada and always question what the gift card is for when someone asks for it. This one guy was a bit slow and said it was for his girlfriend. I had a feeling he was being scammed and told him about people pretending to be someone else to get money out of strangers. I hope I got through to him.
There is a video on here where this company here in the US, where able to get 3 scammer companies busted! So fun to watch them! If you can, check them out, show them to your seniors etc.
I call them again ask them for their address so I send the cards because my wifi isn’t working then if they do I send them a box with a bomb insid and when you open it a lighter trigger pulls and lights it off. I’ve done this like 4 times you should try out too!
Remember, anyone is susceptible to scam. Young, old, new, and veteran(not likely but if the star is align it will happen) alike. They will primarily use scare tactics and timing (usually at night where we are not the most aware).
Great job by the employee. Perhaps stores that sell gift cards could create signage warning and educating potential purchasers about scams and suggesting that they talk to a store manager if they’ve been threatened with negative consequences of any kind for seeking more information about a potential purchase.
The training is not enough. Any place that is selling gift cards should have a policy of clear signage that explains briefly the scam. And anyone purchasing more than $100 worth of gift cards should have the checkout clerk mention to them the scam. The very people on whom this scam is working are not going to check it out.
My mom was scammed out of a thousand because the scammers told her somebody bought a computer with her Amazon account and she had to buy Target cards to prove her identity and nullify the purchase. He also told her not to tell anybody about it.
Get the authorities invovled. The scammer is likely outside their jurisdiction, but they can help with educating your mom and managers of the stores and/or bank she frequents.
@aprilsourplussweet8506. If your Mom is elderly and isn't using good judgment with being contacted over the phone or by e-mail, it might be time to seek financial power of attorney to monitor your Mom's assets. My sister had to do that with my parents after our Dad was scammed out of $2000 in gift cards. After that point, she got pinged every time on her phone when our parents would spend $100 or more. In a couple of years, she started paying their bills (now being on their checking account). Unfortunately, my Dad died without having that money ever being recovered.
I would never fall for something like that cuz I know for a fact that cops would never try to strong arm you into paying such large amounts of money by buying gift cards I would just simply call the real cops and tell them what's going on
A guy said his elderly parents got a scam call like this and were worried. The guy told his parents that if there was a real warrant out for their arrests, the police would be coming to the house. 💡
