By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
SOUTHGATE — A Southgate man was scammed out of $3,000 via Green Dot gift cards on Dec. 4 because he believed a caller who said that there were bench warrants out for his arrest for missing jury duty.
The extorter stayed on the phone with the man while he went to four different stores to purchase Green Dot gift cards in $500 increments. After the victim had purchased the gift cards and read the code numbers to him over the phone, the victim became suspicious when the caller demanded more money.
He then went to the police station, where he handed his phone to a police officer with the scam artist still on the line. When the police officer asked for the caller’s name, the con artist provided a profane non de plume, and hung up.
The extortion was documented, and the victim was given a report number.