Make wishtv.com your home page

Sheriff: Local couple loses $3K in iTunes gift card phone scam

BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Bartholomew County authorities are warning of a phone scam that tricks victims into purchasing iTunes gift cards.

The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office said a couple received a call from a person claiming to be in law enforcement Monday. The caller said their grandson was in jail and needed $3,000 to be released.

The couple was told to purchase $3,000 in iTunes gift cards.

They bought the cards and gave the numbers on the back to the caller.

On Tuesday, the scammer called again. This time, they said the couple’s grandson had bonded out and another $2,000 was needed to get the original $3,000 refunded.

As they were purchasing the $2,000 in iTunes gift cards, someone called to alert the sheriff’s office and the money wasn’t sent.

“If someone wants to separate you from your hard-earned money, just hang up,” Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers said in a statement. “Fraud is one crime that can be avoided — hang up and call us.”

Crime Map
Use Search Bars Above To Search Crime Data