The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Independence Substation is asking for assistance in preventing local citizens from becoming victims of fraudulent scams involving gift cards. 
Criminals often target citizens, especially the elderly, by threatening them with a lien on their home, a warrant for arrest, or that a loved one may be in trouble, according to Lt. Todd Hill, substation commander.
“The criminals will identify themselves as members of law enforcement, the IRS, bill collectors, or an attorney’s office to sound more credible,” said Hill. “The criminals usually have some personal information about you that appears to legitimize their call, email, or text. The criminals advise the citizen to purchase multiple gift cards, sometimes in excess of thousands of dollars, and then turn the gift card numbers over to them.  
“Crimes like these are difficult to solve and prosecute, thus the victim loses their money with no ability to recoup it.”
To help combat this issue, the sheriff’s office is requesting the help of the community. 
Residents are encouraged to educate themselves, along with friends and family, to never pay any debt with a gift card unless you have confirmed the person the money is going to. Most legitimate companies do not want, nor will they accept, gift cards as payment. 
Additionally, community businesses and commercial providers of gift cards should educate all employees on gift card scams and implement a store policy regarding multiple gift card purchases.  
“If a person is buying multiple gift cards, cashiers should be informing the customer of gift card scams and further, they should never be asked to make payments, rectify accounts, or participate in any type of transaction that involves sending a prepaid debit card or gift card numbers,” Hill said. “These transactions are likely a scam.”
If a citizen is a victim or was about to be victimized, they should immediately contact the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and a sheriff’s deputy will be dispatched to take their report.
Dispatch non-emergency number is 248-858-4950, extension 8.