Retailers - get tuned in to the iTunes scammers
Retailers can help prevent money reaching fraudsters by being wary of a new scam where the criminals ask to be paid large sums in iTunes vouchers. Action Fraud is warning people of the new trend, where fraudsters contact victims claiming to be from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and trick them into paying bogus debts and taxes using iTunes gift cards.
Awareness is currently being raised to make the public aware of this scam, but stores and retailers can also help by keeping an eye out for potential victims buying large value vouchers.
There are reports that one elderly victim purchased £3,000 worth of vouchers without question or suspicion, as staff were unaware that this problem exists. If staff are made aware they may be able to identify potentially vulnerable victims, question their reasons and prevent significant losses.
Action Fraud originally released an alert about this scam in 2016 but the method has resurfaced recently.
Please see the links below or the attached documents that have been released by ActionFraud and Apple detailing the scam and what to to watch out for:
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/news/alert-hmrc-and-itunes-gift-card-scam-may16
