Victims hand over iTunes gift cards in IRS scam, deputies say

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Two Volusia County women were scammed out of $700 in the form of iTunes gift cards after they were contacted by phony IRS agents, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said.

The women, one 73 years old and the other 69, were contacted by phone by a person who claimed to be an agent with the IRS, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Both were told that they owed back taxes and would go to jail if they didn’t pay up.

One victim was told to buy a $100 iTunes gift card and call back with the serial number so the scammer could access the funds, investigators said.

The second victim was told to buy two iTunes gift cards, one for $500 and the other for $100.

In both cases, the scammer told the victims that they owed a large amount in back taxes and that the IRS would accept however much they could afford to pay in the form of iTunes gift cards, deputies said.

Once the first victim realized that she had been scammed, she contacted Apple, which tried to block the card from being used, only to find that the funds had been used.

Anyone who receives a similar call from someone claiming to be with the IRS is urged to hang up the phone and contact the nearest law enforcement agency, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said.

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