Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW) -- It seems like a great deal. All you have to do is call the number on the card and you get a free $100 gift card. However, some people quickly learned it's was a scam to get your money and your information.

Carol Brockington is always on the lookout for a good deal, so when she received a postcard in her mailbox, she jumped on the opportunity.

"Walmart, Target? $100? Let me call!" she said.

The simple postcard did not list a return address or even a company name but did state she had an unclaimed reward, a gift card for $100.

"I can do some shopping! You know after Christmas? I can do some shopping," she said.

Brockington called the number on the postcard.

"And (he said) there is no hidden charges and no payment of nothing just one-time fee $6.95. I said $6.95? I thought you said no charges," she asked.

Brockington began asking more questions.

"I was like, OK. Where are you from? And he just hung up," she said.

But not everyone thinks to ask before giving out their personal information. Some viewers told News 12 they fell for the scam. They not only gave out their debit card information but also personal information like birth dates.

"I do not give my debit card number out, my Social Security or birthday date out," Brockington said.

"Beware, call ask questions, do not give your information out," she advised.

Bamburg County Sheriff's investigators say they've determined this to be an international scam. They are turning the fraudulent postcards over to postal inspectors for them to conduct a federal investigation.

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