# "Is this a scam?" chapter seventy-billion, need answer fastish **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 4, 2022, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247 "2022-04-04T16:32:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/41 "2022-04-04T18:01:22Z")
So there would be a necessary additional step of, once you bought the card, emailing the neighbor back and reading a number off the card? (Apologies for my tech ignorance.) And this scammer is doing this to generate $ at $15 a pop? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/42 "2022-04-04T18:04:02Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > And this scammer is doing this to generate $ at $15 a pop? I assume that fifteen bucks is better money in Nigeria or wherever the scammer is located. And a lot more people are likely to rationalize fifteen bucks than a hundred bucks (or a $1,500 bank fee to get your trunk of gold bars out of the UN). Make up for the lower take in quantity. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/43 "2022-04-04T18:06:51Z")
Scam scam scam. Sure, it’s $15 now. I’m sure they figure if you’re stupid enough to give them $15 then you’ll be stupid enough to send them $1500. Nobody but nobody will ever ask you for a gift card unless they’re trying to scam you. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/44 "2022-04-04T18:09:40Z")
Absolutely it’s a scam If it appeared to come from the genuine email address, then the owner of that account has been phished and could be at further risk. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Z2tDAqifAXw/maxresdefault.jpg "I Told You NOT To Click The Phishing Link, But You DID! Now What?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2tDAqifAXw) ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/45 "2022-04-04T18:14:02Z")
Whoa, is that your video? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/46 "2022-04-04T18:17:06Z")
Scammers are switching it up for 2022! They used to use loved ones, friends and neighbors in peril to scam the little old ladies… now they’re using the little old ladies to scam the loved ones, friends and neighbors! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/47 "2022-04-04T18:33:49Z")
I’ve seen this scam three or four times in the wild - always arising from the friend being phished and losing control of their mailbox. The first time I saw it, it was an appeal for help after supposedly being mugged abroad and losing passport and wallet, asking for money to help get home. I replied with a question only the real person would have been able to answer correctly (e.g. what’s the name of the street we walked down together last week?). The scammers never respond to probing questions like that - they just hammer out emails to everyone in the hacked person’s contact list in the hope that someone will act and send money without thinking. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/48 "2022-04-04T18:35:00Z")
I’m going to attack this issue from a slightly different angle: simple logic, based on the facts which the OP knows about this neighbor. 1.The dry facts: She is elderly, and the OP knows that her son said "come live with me in California, you can’t be on your own ". The email supposedly from her says that she is “currently out of town”. 1. my logical reasoning: I ask…"ummm–which town, and how did she currently get out of it? 🙂 Is she capable of travelling on her own? And even if she is physically capable, WHY would she be travelling alone, for more than ,say, a few hours on a plane. And if you’re alone for just a few hours, you wouldn’t email an old neighbor from 3 years ago…you would email the person you are expecting to meet you at the airport. Or maybe even the person you live with (your freaking son, right?–that’s a pretty close relationship, without having to apologize to a neighbor you haven’t seen for years. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/49 "2022-04-04T18:38:28Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I thought that if you hit the reply button the address that you are replying to would at least be transparent (unlike the apparent sender’s spoofed address) - i.e. you can easily see where your reply is going by just looking at the displayed field. I thought this part just depends on whether you are paying attention. You are correct. When you hit reply, you’ll see the “reply to” address, not the sender’s address, in the “To” box of your email. But like you say, it depends on the person paying attention. The email you are reading appears to have your friend’s email address. It’s easy to not look closely at what shows in the To box when you hit reply if you aren’t thinking about it. Scammers can make it even more difficult to catch by setting up email addresses with subtle changes like swapping out similar characters (capital I, lowercase l, number 1). ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/50 "2022-04-04T18:44:39Z")
So - @CairoCarol are you completely sure that the address generated when you hit the reply button was your friend’s genuine email address without any subtle changes? ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/51 "2022-04-04T18:48:04Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > You got something plausible, had the presence of mind of question it and come out unscammed. Go pour yourself a drink this evening to celebrate. I don’t want to see **CairoCarol** drink alone - \<_goes to liquor cabinet_\> > [@chappachula](#): > > I’m going to attack this issue from a slightly different angle: simple logic… & I would’ve gotten away with it if it wasn’t for that [meddling **chappachula**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXUqwuzcGeU) ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/52 "2022-04-04T18:55:05Z")
I think there’s an approximately 0% chance that this email was actually sent by the elderly neighbor. I once got an email from a friend that claimed she had taken a weekend trip to Wales, her phone and wallet were stolen at the car park and she was in trouble with her hotel and desperately needed a loan to pay the bill. I just laughed, because my friend lives in a suburb of Dallas. Plus, she would’ve said parking lot or garage. But if the scammer sends out this email from enough hacked accounts, eventually he’s going to land on the account of someone that is known for their weekend jaunts to Wales and their propensity for losing things. Then they will clean up, because it will ring true with their friends. And I think that’s what is happening here. If it were me, I’d play with them and tell them that I got their email, bought the card and dropped it off at their house because they weren’t home. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/53 "2022-04-04T19:03:32Z")
You don’t actually have to hand the card to someone for them to use it. All they need are the numbers. If you tell her you got the card and the next thing asked is for you to send her the numbers so she can send them to the friend (or family member of friend), it’s a scam. ETA: and if I’d read the rest of the thread, the above has been covered. Oh, well. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/54 "2022-04-04T19:18:36Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I would venture a guess that this is not a scam, > [@Dinsdale](#): > > I doubt it is a scam Hey. Could I get you to grab a $25 Steam gift card for me? My local Walmarts are out at the moment and I need these before restock arrives. Then later we can discuss this bridge I’m not using any more. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/55 "2022-04-04T19:28:47Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > It’s easy to not look closely at what shows in the To box when you hit reply if you aren’t thinking about it. Scammers can make it even more difficult to catch by setting up email addresses with subtle changes like swapping out similar characters (capital I, lowercase l, number 1). That’s what has been done here. The “real” address I got emails from 2-3 years ago was [neighbor3388@aol.com](mailto:neighbor3388@aol.com). The gift card request came from [neighbor3388@gmail.com](mailto:neighbor3388@gmail.com). ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/56 "2022-04-04T20:13:59Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > You are correct. When you hit reply, you’ll see the “reply to” address, not the sender’s address, in the “To” box of your email. > > But like you say, it depends on the person paying attention. The email you are reading appears to have your friend’s email address. It’s easy to not look closely at what shows in the To box when you hit reply if you aren’t thinking about it. Scammers can make it even more difficult to catch by setting up email addresses with subtle changes like swapping out similar characters (capital I, lowercase l, number 1). Lots of systems filter out emails like this. I was setting up a form for a website I manage that would get emailed to me and my attempts all vanished (didn’t even make it to spam) on Yahoo before I made these match. Still, yet another indicator that it was spam was that since the emailer was clearly on line, they could have bought the card on line and sent it online without going to any stores. The recipient isn’t going to get much use out of Apple card without internet access, after all. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/57 "2022-04-04T20:27:26Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I guess this is why they keep at it. Anything, in any context, asking you to buy a gift card is a scam. My best friend fell for a similar scam last year. He got an email from his elderly aunt about getting an Amazon gift card for someone’s birthday. Coincidentally, his mother had recently told him that his aunt was starting to have some cognitive issues so he thought it was understandable that she couldn’t figure out how to order the gift card. The scammers keep at it because they know situations like that will happen and they will get some money. He lost $400. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/58 "2022-04-04T20:28:18Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > The recipient isn’t going to get much use out of Apple card without internet access, after all. If I had music ripped to my PC, couldn’t I buy a device (via gift cards) & copy music directly to that device to use offline (like an MP3 player) of do you have to download / stream music from Apple (or another source, like Spotify) which requires intertubez access? ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/59 "2022-04-04T20:47:06Z")
I’m trying to parse @Spiderman 's post, but if I understand it correctly, then yes, you can load mp3 or similar files you have stored on your local computer on a stand-alone playback system for offline play. Sadly (or maybe not) most of those stand-alone devices have passed into the days of yesteryear, as the ubiquity of cellphones with ample storage space PLUS additional features have eaten up the market. Some music services do require a periodic online check (via wifi or other options for non-cellular devices) to make sure that the music is authorized and it’s normally limited to specific devices/apps/programs. This is leaving out other non-DRM music storage methods that don’t have to worry about such features. But, yes, if you got a target gift card via a scam you could buy something like this - > **[SanDisk Clip Sport Go 16GB MP3 Player - Black](https://www.target.com/p/sandisk-clip-sport-go-16gb-mp3-player-black/-/A-76833110#lnk=sametab)** > > Read reviews and buy SanDisk Clip Sport Go 16GB MP3 Player - Black at Target. Choose from contactless Same Day Delivery, Drive Up and more. And load it with ripped CDs - not that I think scammers are doing any of the sort. They’re likely reselling the cards, buying merchandise to resell, or making ‘in-app’ purchases on sites they have an arrangement with for a cut. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247/60 "2022-04-04T20:47:31Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Rule of thumb: no one legitimate asks you to buy gift cards to send money. Now grandma, I am stuck in a Canadian jail and I need $500 in Apple gift cards to get out. Please don’t tell mom and dad. Read the numbers on the cards to Officer Jones at [iamstupid@gmail.com](mailto:iamstupid@gmail.com). You didn’t know you had a grandson? It will be a great story when I get home. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-scam-chapter-seventy-billion-need-answer-fastish/962247.md?page=4)