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18 Beachwood Buzz June 2016
Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs
Warns Residents of Growing iTunes Gift Card Scam
The Cuyahoga County Depart-
ment of Consumer Affairs warns
county residents of all ages to
hang up on impostor scams that
seek payment in iTunes gift cards.
Consumers across the country
have been frightened into send-
ing thousands of dollars' worth of
iTunes gift cards to scammers who
pose as police, attorneys, debt
collectors or IRS agents.
Scammers who previously
targeted grandparents have
expanded their target groups
to include younger consumers,
including those who owe money
on student loans.
In a typical call, a consumer
is told to purchase iTunes gift
cards to:
· Avoid arrest for an unpaid
student loan or other debt.
· Pay bail or court fees for a
relative who has been jailed.
· Avoid being jailed or fined for
unpaid taxes.
No legitimate government
agency or debt collector
accepts payment in ITunes or
other gift cards.
"Scammers' game plans are to
get you so upset that you overlook
holes in their story," said Sheryl
Harris, director of the Department
of Consumer Affairs. "They push
you to pay fast, while you're still
in a panic, so you won't check out
what they're saying with someone
else, be that a relative, police, the
IRS or your lender."
Protect yourself:
· Hang up on any caller who
makes threats or asks you to
pay fines, debts, fees or bail
with an iTunes card.
· Never read off the numbers or
codes from a gift card to some-
one who calls you demanding
payment ­ that's all a scammer
needs to steal the card's value.
· Know that, by law, debt
collectors are not allowed to
threaten you with jail or scare
you into making payments.
· No government office accepts
iTunes payments.
· Don't tell scammers how you
spotted them ­ it helps them
perfect their game. Just hang up.
Report scam calls to the
Cuyahoga County Depart-
ment of Consumer Affairs at
216.443.7035 or www.consumer-
affairs.cuyahogacounty.us.
No legitimate
government agency or
debt collector accepts
payment in ITunes or
other gi cards.
NEO Jewish Singles
Pot-Luck
Dinner
Fairmount Temple's group
for singles 45-65ish is hosting
a Pot-Luck Dinner at Fair-
mount Temple, on Saturday,
June 26. Come enjoy good
food and meet some nice
people! RSVPs are preferred
at http://www.meetup.com/
NEO-Jewish-Singles-45-65-
ish/. If you don't want to join
Meetup, please email Sally at
lvzgadgets@yahoo.com and
let her know what you plan
to bring to share. (All dishes
must be brought ready to
serve at room temperature
or in a crock pot to be kept
warm.) Group participants
hope to see you there!
I earned my
first degree
from Tri-C
®
Stephanie Bayne saved thousands
of dollars by starting her college
career at Tri-C.
Stephanie chose Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) for its
convenience and affordable tuition. Her credits transferred
seamlessly to Kent State University, where she began as a
junior. Tri-C has allowed Stephanie to save money on the way
to completing her bachelor's degree in four years.
Eastern Campus
4250 Richmond Road
Highland Heights, OH 44122
tri-c.edu
216-987-6000
15-0443
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