Unscrupulous perpetrators reportedly stole tens of thousands of euros from a woman from Klagenfurt (78) with so-called gift vouchers. A now common scam. And the fraudsters are becoming increasingly brazen. The Crown spoke to one of the victims.
First the perpetrators asked the victim (78) to make the transfer – then the pensioner suddenly had to buy gift vouchers and hand out the codes. “Elderly people hardly use internet banking and go to their home bank for transfers. The employees are now trained to deal with such fraud – and ideally they become suspicious of unusual transactions from their regular customers. But the fraudsters already know that,” explains a researcher.
And so unscrupulous criminals increasingly rely on gift cards. Even if no money flows, they can resell or use the “gifted” credit to purchase goods – ultimately making money on the black market or on various online sales platforms. And this without the risk that bank transactions can be traced.
Perpetrators redeemed codes immediately after purchase
An 80-year-old fell for the same scam. This person was informed by telephone about an alleged lottery win. However, processing fees do apply. This pensioner also transferred more than a thousand euros before the perpetrators switched to ‘voucher mode’. “I bought two vouchers and passed on the codes by telephone. The next day I would buy more vouchers at exactly the same store,” the victim said in an interview with the “Krone”.
That’s what the gullible victim finally did, hoping for a big win. Shortly afterwards, the fraud was discovered thanks to a family member – and at least the last eight purchased voucher cards, worth a total of almost 3,000 euros, turned out to be secured. Wrong thought: Because although the codes in question had not yet been communicated, they had already been redeemed.
Researchers appeal to supermarkets
“This indicates that the perpetrators photographed the codes in advance in the store, kept an eye on the victim and waited until the victim paid at the cash register and thus activated the gift vouchers,” a detective told the “Krone” . In many stores these cards still hang in front of the cash register – and no one notices them being opened and closed again. “Supermarket employees should also ask themselves whether a pensioner buys multiple voucher cards with a high value,” says the criminologist.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
