A 71-year-old woman from Malcolm, Nebraska, lost $21,000 after falling victim to a gift card scam that played out over nearly two months, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Ben Houchin said the woman was contacted through Facebook Messenger by someone claiming to be an old high school friend. That person encouraged her to reach out to another individual who promised she would receive $150,000, but only after paying the “taxes” first.
Believing the offer to be real, the woman began purchasing over 100 gift cards, taking photos of each card and sending them to the scammer. In total, she made 107 separate purchases before realizing she had been defrauded.
Houchin said it wasn’t until the woman confided in her son, who then urged her to contact law enforcement, that the scam was reported.
He emphasized that no legitimate organization will ever request payment through gift cards or cryptocurrency, warning that such demands are clear red flags.
Even store employees tried to intervene, asking the woman why she was buying so many gift cards, but she told them they were for her own use. “They tried to help her keep from getting scammed,” Houchin said, “but it still happened.”
The Sheriff’s Office says they handle similar scam cases at least twice a month, and unfortunately, in most instances, the stolen funds cannot be recovered.
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