Havre police warn about iTunes gift card scam hitting the area

Havre Police are warning people about a new scam that is hitting the area involving iTunes gift cards.

A press release from the Havre Police Department said the scam starts with people receiving an official-looking envelope asking the person who received it to act as a “mystery survey shopper.”

The document includes a money order — which is fraudulent but may pass initial screening, but will not be processed, leaving the person who cashes it potentially responsible for the money. It includes portions for a “commission” that implies to the person they are being compensated.

The scam asks the person to cash the money order and use it to buy iTunes gift cards in $50 or $100 increments, the release said, then to use the cards to shop at local stores.

The release said the document asks the people to buy the cards and complete a survey evaluating their shopping experience. It also asks people to scratch off the card and send them a picture of the code found on the activated card which grants them the funds allocated on the cards.

People are warned not to cash the fraudulent money orders sent in this scam.