Beware of seasonal gift card scammers

Imlay City police chief warns business owners of con artists

 

IMLAY CITY — Imlay City Police Chief Brett Selby reports there have been recent reports of individuals trying to scam local businesses.

Selby said that in the past few weeks, several attempts have been made at local businesses and restaurants to convert money in the register into gift cards.

He said that typically, a caller poses as a law enforcement and asks an employee to take all of the cash out of the register. The employee is then asked to convert the cash into gift cards — usually a MoneyPak prepaid debit card.

“Law enforcement will never ask you to remove any money from your business, convert any money or ask you to buy gift cards for any reason,” Selby pointed out. “If you receive one of these calls as a manager or employee, hang up and make a police report.”

Chief Selby asks that local residents and businesses who encounter attempted fraudulent activity to contact the Imlay City Police Dept. at 810-724-2345.