PUBLIC SAFETY BULLETIN
TCU Police Department
3025 Lubbock Fort Worth, Texas 76129
Emergency: 817.257.7777 | Non-Emergency: 817.257.8400
The TCU Police Department is aware of two recent scam attempts targeting TCU Faculty and Staff using emails which identify the scammer as senior TCU Faculty. In each case, the intended victim was asked to buy iTunes gift cards. The intended target is then asked to reveal the cards PIN codes and send photographs of the codes to the scammer.
There’s a thriving black market for stolen iTunes gift codes sold at steep discounts. This enables scammers to turn those stolen codes into cash before the victim catches on. Here are some tips to help you spot these scams and avoid getting added to a scammer’s playlist:
1. If you are asked to pay for a product or service via an iTunes gift card (even if it’s associated with another Apple payment product like Apple Pay) it’s a scam.
2. Do not give out the code on the back of an iTunes gift card to anyone. This code is all that’s needed to drain the card of all its value.
3. If you want to send an iTunes gift to someone, the safest way to do it is via the iTunes app (on iOS devices like iPhones or iPads) or the iTunes desktop program. Instructions on sending iTunes gifts are available here.
4. If you’ve already purchased the card and provided the code to someone you think is a scammer, contact Apple immediately via https://getsupport.apple.com/ to see if they can cancel the card before funds get depleted.
Have you been a victim of an iTunes gift card scammer? Fraud.Org wants to know! You can file a complaint at Fraud.org via our secure online complaint form. Fraud.Org will share your complaint with our network of more than 90 law enforcement and consumer protection agency partners who can and do put fraudsters behind bars.
If you have any questions, please contact Sgt. Stephen Hall at the TCU Police Department.