HAMBURG, Pa. (WHTM) \u2013 A Pennsylvania woman lost nearly $500 to a scammer promising to send her $15.9 million.<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania State Police in Hamburg say a 62-year-old Berks County woman was promised $15.9 million would be deposited into their checking account through an online\/cellphone scam.<\/p>\n
Close<\/a><\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Watch for us in your inbox.<\/p>\n Subscribe Now<\/p>\n The victim was directed to pay processing fees with gift cards to acquire the large sum of money.<\/p>\n State Police say the victim sent the scammer two $25 gift cards, a $223 Amazon gift card, and a $200 Money Pak gift card, resulting in a loss of $473.<\/p>\n Eventually, State Police say the victim \u201crealized the situation did not make sense\u201d and reported the scam.<\/p>\n The investigation is currently ongoing.<\/p>\n Bought beef? You have just days to file a claim in $87.5 million settlement <\/a><\/p>\n State Police, the Pennsylvania Department of Banking & Securities, and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging say scammers often use gift cards to steal money from unsuspecting residents.<\/p>\n The agencies<\/a> advise residents not to open emails or answer calls from unknown individuals and not to give out personal information to people they do not know.<\/p>\n Residents can also join the Do Not Call List by calling 1-888-777-3406, and are advised to check their credit report annually.<\/p>\n If you believe you have been contacted by a scammer or are the victim of a scam, you\u2019re recommended to file reports with Pennsylvania State Police, the state\u2019s Attorney General\u2019s Office, and the Federal Trade Commission. You\u2019re also recommended to keep a notebook with records detailing the incident, including dates and times, who you talked to, and a summary of details discussed.<\/p>\n