Suffolk Police Warn Of Best Buy Gift Card Text Message Scam
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - Police in Suffolk County are warning the public about a scam being sent to mobile phones, WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported.
The old saying "If it's too good to be true, it probably is" applies here.
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What happens is that a text message is sent to someone's phone and it congratulates the recipient and tells the person that he or she has won a $1,000 gift card from Best Buy.
But it's not for real. Sgt. Daniel Malloy told Hall it's a scam.
"They direct you to a site which looks legitimate because it has the Best Buy name in it," he said. "However, once there, they request personal information."
The site requests your Social Security and bank account numbers.
Best Buy said they are not running this promotion.
Suffolk County police recommend you just press delete if a text message like that pops up.
"Whenever anyone tells you you've won a contest that you did not enter, or requests information, there's a good chance that it's a scam," said Malloy.
Have you ever been the victim of a scam via text message? Please feel free to share your story in the comments section below.
