UNDATED -- It's a new twist on an old scam. It begins with a promise you'll win a $500 gas card if you pay $79.95 up front.
Postal inspectors discovered this scam online while looking for scams that pose a risk to consumers. Here's how it works:
You would send the $79.95 to the suspect and they would send you paperwork back on how to conduct your own scam. Victims never received the $500 gift card. Instead, they got a blueprint on how to con more people out of money.
Inspectors say they are seeing more of these simple scams.
"During tough economic times it's difficult for people to get their own job, let alone pay for the gas to get there, so a $79.95 payment for a $500 gift card sounds really great to people," U.S. Postal Inspector Laura Carter says.
The best advice inspectors can give is, if there is something that just doesn't seem right, just walk away and don't get involved.
Postal inspectors discovered this scam online while looking for scams that pose a risk to consumers. Here's how it works:
You would send the $79.95 to the suspect and they would send you paperwork back on how to conduct your own scam. Victims never received the $500 gift card. Instead, they got a blueprint on how to con more people out of money.
Inspectors say they are seeing more of these simple scams.
"During tough economic times it's difficult for people to get their own job, let alone pay for the gas to get there, so a $79.95 payment for a $500 gift card sounds really great to people," U.S. Postal Inspector Laura Carter says.
The best advice inspectors can give is, if there is something that just doesn't seem right, just walk away and don't get involved.