Elderly Women Defrauded in Large Gift‑Card Scams Across US

A 73‑year‑old woman from Traverse City, Michigan lost $42,000 after scammers posing as Microsoft employees demanded $6,000 in gift cards and a wire transfer, claiming her account was linked to illegal activity. Amy Nofzinger, senior director of fraud victim support at AARP, said the scheme mirrors a predictable phishing pattern that uses urgency, fear and untraceable gift cards.

In a separate case, a 69‑year‑old resident of Derry Township, Pennsylvania reported losing $247,000 over three years by sending nearly 1,000 Apple, Footlocker and Razer Gold gift cards to phone numbers instructed by scammers. The victim purchased the cards at stores such as Walmart and Best Buy and kept detailed records. Both incidents illustrate a growing nationwide trend of gift‑card fraud targeting seniors, with consumer‑protection agencies like the FTC warning that no legitimate organization will ever request payment via gift cards.