Fake Apple alert scam tricks victim into sending gift cards

Apple security text scam tricks victim into sending gift cards in Stafford County

STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — A convincing text message claiming to be from Apple Security led a local resident to lose money in a gift card scam, authorities said.

The incident happened around 11:09 a.m. on Daventry Place, where the victim reported receiving a message warning that their phone had been hacked.

After calling the number provided in the text, the suspect allegedly claimed there was a balance on the victim’s account that needed to be resolved immediately.

The victim was then instructed to purchase gift cards to cover the supposed balance and send the codes to the suspect — which they did before real...