Warning after scammers ask for gift card to be sent to 'friend's' email address with promise of paying back
Police are warning residents to be vigilant after a scam email was received asking for a gift card to be purchased and sent to a 'friend's' email address.
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West Mercia Police PCSO in Oswestry, Peter Roberts posted an alert on the force's Neighbourhood Matters page stating that officers have become aware of a new email scam.
His post said police are in contact with a person who received an initial email asking if they had received a message.
After replying with 'yes', scammers have sent another email asking for a John Lewis e-gift card to be purchased and sent to another email address.
Scammers are claiming that their 'friend's' daughter has cancer, and that their card has been declined and their Amazon account has been locked after trying to purchase a gift card.
Police have warned Shropshire residents of the scam email and shared the full message that was received.
The scam email said: "Glad to hear back from you, I need to get a John Lewis e-gift card for my friend's daughter who is down with cancer of the liver.
"I tried purchasing them myself, but my card declined, and my Amazon account was locked. Can you get it on your Amazon account, and have it sent to her email address? I will pay back immediately when she gets the order.
"Let me know if you can handle this so I can forward her email to you."
