Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

When you read the following, "FRIEND" AND "HER" is the scammer. This is kind of a convoluted story, so hope you get the gist. My wife belongs to a women's club and is friends with many of the ladies and communicates with them on a regular basis. She got a text from one of her "FRIENDS" in this club, who asked if my wife has Amazon Prime? My wife told her, no, but my husband does. This "FRIEND" told my wife, she wanted to give a "Google Play Gift Card" in the amount of $150 bought from Amazon and sent to another friend who also belongs to the same club who is actually a friend of hers (the real friend of my wife) and my wife. In the text, she said there was a mix up with her credit card and it would take two days to get resolved and their mutual friend's birthday was today and she wanted to give the present today. At first the text said to send it to their common friend via email. I told my wife, who said, the asking friend was a real good person in her 80s, that I wasn't to keen on sending it to the 3rd person. I said I don't think I can do it. So after my wife told the "FRIEND" (this is all by text) that I, her husband, didn't want to do that. Then this "FRIEND" said, oh please please ask your husband to then send it to me at my email address. My wife asked "HER", "are you OK, this doesn't sound like you (my wife's real friend has health issues and is on Oxygen), are having some health issues? Then my wife, after thinking about it some more, told this "FRIEND", "this doesn't sound right and I don't think I can do this". This all took place over 2 hours.Well it was all a scam. fortunately we didn't bite. This scammer had email addresses and text info for my wife and her friends. This is a take off of the scam that the supposed grandchild calls the grandparent saying they have some emergency incident and needs some quick money. So everybody, fore warned is fore armed! Kerry

Ronniejw Loc: West Point MS

They will try anything, have been getting PayPal emails saying my account is frozen, I don't have a paypal account, they send a log in add, I just delete the emails. Also had a parcel sent from amazon that I didn't order, was sent by a company in Nevada, seems facebook is sending these Oculus things around trying to get people to join and then they have all your phone contacts as well as email adds. Too many cons going on nowadays

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Thanks for the heads up Kerry.

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

I would have called the real Friend and asked her if she was texting me.
About Paypal I have it and when I get one of those I open a new tab and go to Paypal direct, NOT the EMail link. Log on and check my account.
Don't have Prime, can't see paying $100 for faster delivery. To me that's like sending money to Mensa to see if I am smart! Duh! I'll just keep the money in my pocket instead.

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

My wife tried that but couldn't reach her.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

If it seems the least bit suspicious, trust your instincts as it probably is a scam of some sort.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Thank you for the word of caution, Kerry.

Frank romero Loc: Clovis, NM

I also get the email from PayPal and I don’t have account. Had 1 that I was late on Amazon Prime don’t have that either.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

You guys might remember my wife got hacked on nearly the same scenario. Scammer got her email addresses when she replied to his email requesting for gift cards. To her defense it appeared to be sent from her cousin, who had been hacked that got her email address.

Fish Dancer Loc: Guntersville, Alabama

Convoluted to say the least. Thanks for the heads up.

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

Always call the person they say needs the money. I don't care if it is EMail, or phone call to me, I go directly (not clicking links) and or hang up and call the family member. The only place I will use my PIN is at my banks ATM. That keeps me out of trouble. The wife learned that from one time having a charge after using Walmart with her PIN. She called the Bank and killed the charge to our account and then went and got a new card. Since then she has started being as paranod as I am. She is the only one that I trust with the checking account (other than me) for the 30 years we have been married.