Beware: Love Lures and $33k Gift Card Scam – Unraveling the Web of Deceit with No Redemption in Sight!

A distressing new internet scam involves a manufactured relationship with General Hospital star Steve Burton, defrauding unsuspecting victims of up to $33,000.

Warning to avoid $33k gift card scam (Photo: Google)

Gift Card Bait

The scam artists used Target, Best Buy, and Meijer gift cards to trick victims into giving them money by acting as Burton on social media.

One Indianapolis victim was duped, demonstrating the crooks’ emotional manipulation.

Burton warned followers on the Daily Drama podcast that celebrity impersonations are common in money-sucking frauds. He previously warned about fraudsters on Instagram and disclaimed personal solicitation to admirers.

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Gift Card Fraud Tactics

Criminals use gift cards in frauds because they are anonymous and hard to track. The scammers usually force victims to provide digital gift cards or photos of the actual cards’ activation numbers. Walmart has reimbursed $4 million to gift card fraud victims since 2018, raising awareness and vigilance.

As frauds grow, law enforcement and merchants struggle to resist them. Walmart offers a gift card fraud hotline (888-537-5503).

The FTC welcomes scam reports for further investigation. As scammers get more complex, people must stay watchful and check online interactions to avoid falling victim to them.

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