bogus $1000 gift card award
Complaint
L Keefe
Country: United States
Text message sent to my cell phone on May 18, 2012, 11:23 AM:
"Dear Walmert shopper, your purchase last month won a $1000 Gift Card. Click here to claim:
www.vCardPrize.com
(quit2end)"
sent from phone number:
(949) 292-2419
"Dear Walmert shopper, your purchase last month won a $1000 Gift Card. Click here to claim:
www.vCardPrize.com
(quit2end)"
sent from phone number:
(949) 292-2419
Comments
; 171 4686 6253
Done a little research. This cell phone number actually belonged to an executive from the UK working here in the States.
Internationally, this scam was used as a kidnapping ruse. When you go to this link, it somehow connects with your personal information. Someone calls you afterwards and tells you to turn your phone off for 3 to 4 hours while the money transfer takes place onto your card. Then, using your phone information, they contact a number of family members telling them you are being held hostage and demanding a small ransom---generally something most people can afford as the caller sounds desperate and just needs a little cash to get by. The scam artist takes your voice mail recordings and alters them to sound like you are crying for help and asking you to pay the ransom. By the time your family member has transfered the money to them, it is too late to do anything about it. Since the call comes from your cell phone number and they either cannot reach you or reach the scam artist, your friends/family assumes the kidnapping is valid.
Initially, the scam started out using cell phone providers; but, Walmart is such an easy target, it is so much easier as people are always trying to win the $1000 gift card on line.
Very sad when scam artists pick on those most likely less able to afford it.
Walmart is not really letting people know about this scam. You have to go looking for it. Too bad Walmart does not takes steps to let their patrons know what is going on instead of just posting something on their website. If you have ever applied for this $1000 Walmart contest, you know it does not go to their website but to the company administering the contest.