Scam Urges Elderly Victims To Spend Thousands On Gift Cards

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Suffolk County police have issued a warning about a gift card scam that is targeting elderly victims this holiday season.

The scam, like many others, starts with a fake emergency phone call.

"Elderly victims were called on the telephone. The caller claimed that their relative, in some cases their grandson, was in trouble in a motor accident," Deputy Inspector Patrick Reilly told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall. "In order to assist them, they required the victim go buy gift cards either from Target or iTunes."

The callers asked the victims to spend thousands of dollars on the gift cards and then relay the card numbers.

"Hang up, call the relative, call the family member, try to verify the story they're telling you," Reilly cautioned.