By SALINA POST
A Salina woman lost $16,000 in a gift card scam after scammers falsely claimed her financial accounts were linked to money laundering, according to Salina Police Department (SPD) Captain James Feldman.
The 76 year old woman contacted the SPD on September 20, explaining that she had initially received an email from someone posing as a representative of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Department of Investigations. The scammer told her that her checking account and credit cards were tied to money laundering, and to resolve the issue, she needed to buy gift cards.
"A store clerk team told her it was a scam, but she believed that it had occurred, and so she went through with it," Feldman said.
The woman continued with the purchase of gift cards totaling $9,000 and $7,000 charged to a credit card. The scammer then had her provide the card numbers, allowing them to steal the funds.
Captain Feldman emphasized the importance of being mindful of ongoing scams.
“No government agency, including the FTC, will ever ask for gift cards as a form of payment,” Feldman said.
As the holiday season approaches, SPD urges residents to stay alert and report any suspicious activity immediately. Be cautious of unsolicited requests for money or gift cards, as they are common tactics used by scammers.