CLEVELAND COMMUNITY – A western Johnston County resident was the victim of an internet scam. The 67 year-old victim said he applied for a personal loan on several internet websites.
One of the websites appeared to be a legitimate financial lending organization, but it was not. It was a scammer. The victim received a phone call from an individual who claimed they would help process the loan but first demanded the victim send in several thousand dollars in gift cards to cover fees.
The victim sent in $10,970 in prepaid gift cards only to discover he was being scammed.
The dollar value of the loan the victim was seeking was not immediately available. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
Paying in gift cards?!?!? #StupidIsAsStupidDoes
You got that right. 🙂 I feel bad for elderly people that get scammed, but this is, well as you said stupid is as stupid does. Mama said…
Why do you feel the need to post on articles only to ridicule victims or other wise post incorrect statements? BTW, educate yourself a bit; hashtags are ‘aesthetically unpleasing’ and no longer needed on X.
@Correcting: Many of these “victims” need to take some self-responsibility! Too many snowflakes think that other peiple (or the government) should do things for them. If you really think that you need to give GIFT CARDS to a company in order to get a loan, then you should not be allowed to control your own finances. #ThisIsNotX #MakeAmericaSmartAgain
I am an IT engineer, I would likely take one look at your home network and show YOU how absolutely vulnerable you are to attacks. You are likely sending data to China thru devices such as your router, smartphone, smart switches and other IoT devices and you don’t know it. They could very likely target you one day in a way that fools you and you would have an entirely different perspective. I’m simply saying have show some grace and sympathy and focus instead on the criminals. I see this all the time in my line of work. It happens to folks all the time just like you only they are too embarrassed to report it. It may not be gift cards but that is only the start of what these criminals are capable of.
@Self: My firewall and VPN may not be perfect, but I would NEVER send anyone payment in gift cards or Bitcoin. #StopBeingStupidAmerica
Somebody better make sure he doesn’t have a space heater in an enclosed space too.
Something doesn’t sound right here! How does someone who has no money and is applying for personal loans come up with $10,970.00 to buy gift cards for a scammer???? Make it make SENSE!
Wait!!! He sent them $10,970.00 in gift cards yet he was applying for a “loan”???? … Does that make any kind of sense???? Serves him right! He should have lost it!
What is wrong with you people???!!! Do none of you have parents or grandparents??!! Maybe this man is intellectually diminished. Heck, I don’t know MAYBE HE’S 67 YEARS OLD!!! And to say that he DESERVED to lose his money because he had $10k available and was still seeking a loan… that’s just a new low. Maybe someone in his family is having medical issues well and beyond $10k that he’s trying to help with. Maybe he’s helping one of his children or grandchildren buy a home. At the end of the day no matter how much $ he had available to him in the bank already, I’m assuming it’s money that HE WORKED FOR and the scammer is a sorry piece of trash for taking advantage of the elderly. I would never wish anything bad on anyone but I sincerely hope that every one of you that said this man deserved to be scammed get back from this world what you’re putting out there into the world. Shame on you!
Amen! TellTheTruthFaceJustTurnedRed
No one said he deserved to lose his money, all that was said is stupid is as stupid does and if he is unable to take care of his money then he needs someone who can. Gift cars to get a loan. Think about it.
@Steve: Finally! I found another intelligent American in JoCo! #NotSheep