Westfield Resident Scammed Into Emailing Target Gift Card PIN Number To 'Cousin'

WESTFIELD, NJ —While the so-called "Grandparent Scam" has victimized people across the country in recent years — in which a person calls a victim claiming to have their grandchild in custody and demands ransom or bail — a Westfield resident recently fell prey to something that could be characterized as a "cousin scam."

The Westfield police said this week that on Sept. 28, a resident reported receiving an email from someone "whom they thought was their cousin."

The email told the person to buy a Target gift card, scratch off the PIN number, and send the card number and PIN number to a separate email.

"The resident received an alternate e‐mail in which they sent the gift card information to," police said.

But the scammer did not prevail.

The resident was able to contact their cousin soon after, who said "they did not send the e‐mail and their e‐mail may have been hacked." The resident was able to lock the gift card in time, and suffered no monetary loss.

Internet Scams Increasing; Westfield Resident Lost $12K

With more people working at home, residents in Union County and around the country have fallen for more internet scams to get their personal information. READ MORE: Internet Scams See Uptick In All But 1 State

Often, scammers pose as everyone from relatives from representatives of internet security firms, as was the case in Westfield recently. READ MORE: Westfield Man Bilked Out Of $12K by Fake McAfee Antivirus Vendor

The Westfield police held a forum about avoiding internet scams in April and advised people to be careful whom they send their personal information to, particularly by email or phone.

Previous Westfield And Union County Police Items

• Two Teens In Ski Masks Charged With Car Burglary In Westfield
• Thief Steals Rims And Tires Worth $6K From Summit Car
• Teen Arrested Twice For Westfield Car Thefts
• You Can't Be Nude By The Rahway River
• Theives Swipe $7K From Porsche In Westfield
• Cranford Police Issue Warning About Rise In Burglaries
• Teen Arrested Twice For Westfield Car Thefts
• Westfield Residents Report 'Suspicious' People, Vehicles
• Summit Car Thefts For July
• Cars Are Being Stolen At Union County Country Clubs
• 3 Police Are Injured As Westfield Teen Is Charged In Car Thefts
• Running Mercedes With Top Down Is Swiped At Mountainside 7-11
• One Car, Two Bikes Reported Stolen In Westfield

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