Kelowna Regional RCMP are working with a recent scam victim to raise public awareness of the iTunes gift card scam, after a Kelowna resident reported he was defrauded of approximately $35,000.
According to the complainant, he was contacted by an individual with a South Asian accent, who falsely claimed they represented a company that had purchased another reputable company. The complainant had recently received online technical support services for his personal computer from that reputable company, so he thought the caller was legitimate.
Unfortunately, the complainant granted the fraudster access to his computer. He was convinced to purchase tens of thousands of dollars in iTunes cards and then enter the information into his computer. It is reported that the scam artist also managed to access the complaint's international bank account and remove thousands in funds.
On its website, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reports it has seen an increase in complaints where fraudsters request payment through the purchase of iTunes gift cards.
The RCMP advises that if you are asked to pay for any service or product with an iTunes gift card, do not follow through; it’s a scam. Report the incident to both your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. It is also not uncommon for fraudsters to impersonate the real Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
For more information on frauds and fraud prevention tips, please visit the BC RCMP website at bcrcmp.ca or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at canadianantifraudcentre.ca