TOMAHAWK, WI (WSAU) — For the second time in as many weeks, a Tomahawk resident has lost thousands in a phone scam.
According to Lieutenant Tim Fischer, the woman received a call from someone claiming that her granddaughter was in an accident and needed $4,000 in Home Depot gift cards.
The unidentified woman then purchased the cards and gave the scammer the numbers. It was only after she turned the cards over that she realized she had been scammed.
The investigation remains open, but it is highly unlikely that the woman will get her money back.
Last week a Tomahawk man lost $2,500 after he was told that his nephew needed bond money following an accident. That man was also told he needed to provide the funds in Home Depot gift cards, which he did.
In that case, officials believe the scammer was based in Canda and liquidated the funds immediately after receiving the gift card numbers.
Sheriff’s officials remind residents that no legitimate agency will ever require you to provide funds over the phone by gift card or iTunes cards.
