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Scammers are getting smarter day by day and one of the latest scams is where they pose as HM Revenue and Customs employees and ask for payment of a large tax bill in the form of iTunes vouchers. Individuals, mainly senior citizens, are being targeted and the scammers are asking to pay hospital bills, bail money, credit and collection, and utility bills with an iTunes Gift Card. According to Apple, there are several scams related to iTunes Gift Cards and the HM Revenue and Customs scam is only one of them.
Protect Yourself from iTunes Gift Card Scams
Here are some tips to protect yourself from iTunes Gift Card scams:
- Always be wary of unsolicited phone calls or emails asking for personal or financial information, especially if it’s to be paid through an iTunes Gift Card. Apple confirms that it never asks for payment over the phone.
- Never give out the numbers on the back of an iTunes Gift Card to anyone you don’t know. Apple makes it clear that no legitimate organization will ask for payment using an iTunes Gift Card.
- If you are concerned that someone you know may be a victim of a scam, advise them not to make any payment over the phone to anyone until they have verified the caller’s authenticity by contacting the organization directly, but not through the number provided by the scammer.
- Report any suspected scam to Action Fraud via their website.
Steps Taken by HMRC – Letter to Supermarkets
HMRC has written to the CEOs of major supermarkets including Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco to raise awareness of the iTunes Gift Card scam among their staff so they can help protect unsuspecting customers.
Other Apple-Related Scams
There are other scams related to Apple such as phishing and spam emails, which users should look out for. To protect yourself from scams like these, refer to tutorials like “How to Spot a Free iPad Scam”, “How to Stop iOS Crash Report Scam” and “How to Delete Facebook Account”.
FAQs:
1. How can I protect myself from iTunes Gift Card scams?
You can protect yourself from iTunes Gift Card scams by being cautious when someone, particularly an unknown caller or email, asks you to make payment through an iTunes Gift Card. It’s also advisable to report suspicious activity related to iTunes Gift Card scams to Action Fraud.
2. Which supermarkets received the letter from HMRC regarding the iTunes Gift Card scam?
Major supermarkets in the UK including Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco received a letter from HMRC regarding the iTunes Gift Card scam. The letter aimed to raise awareness among the supermarket staff so that they can help to protect their customers from falling victim to the scam.