Township resident scammed of $2,500

A Bloomfield Township resident reported to police on Friday, June 5, that the previous day he had been the victim of an online scam which cost him $2,500 in Target gift cards. The resident, who lives in the 4000 block of Kiftsgate Bend, reported that on Thursday, June 4, he received an email he thought was from Amazon. The email informed him that his MacBook Pro was being delivered to an address in Galveston, Texas. The resident advised in a return email that he did not order a computer. He then called the 1-800 number in the email and was told his computer had been hacked, and that he would be credited for the MacBook Pro. Moments later, he was informed by the same person that his bank account had been accidentally credited too much money for the fraudulent purchase. The caller told him that he needed to reimburse Amazon for the difference, and to do that he would need to purchase Target gift cards and provide the security access codes on the back. The victim went to Target and purchased five $500 Target gift cards, and provided the access codes. He was then instructed to purchase five more cards. The victim returned to Target and attempted to purchase five more cards, but the Target cashier recognized him from the previous purchase and advised him he was being scammed. Bloomfield Township police have the case under investigation, and remind the public that no legitimate organization would ever ask to be paid for goods or services with gift cards.