If You Get This Latest Louisiana Scam Message: DELETE it Immediately

New Xfinity/Target Gift Card Scam

There’s yet another new scam circulating around the Shreveport Bossier area.  It seems as though if these dirt-bags would put half the effort into a legitimate concern as they do trying to scam people, they would still be successful.

How the Scam Works

The latest iteration is a text or voice-mail message that’s circulating telling cell-phone users that their Xfinity discount is going to be discontinued unless they immediately call the number from which the text or call originated.

And if you do call the number back, (don’t), the scammer will tell you the discount promotion is being co-sponsored by Target.  And you must buy Target gift cards in order to secure your discount.  (This particular person had to buy 3 $600 Target gift cards). After you purchase the gift cards, (don't), the scammer asks for the gift card numbers to be able to apply your discount.  Of course, at that point, your money is gone.

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Shreveport Police Department's Warning

The Shreveport Police Department has received several calls in regards to this, and many other scams going around right now.  They released a statement saying:

The Shreveport Police Department is urging the public to remain vigilant as reports of phone scams continue to rise in our community. These scams can come through both voice calls and text messages and often involve individuals posing as law enforcement or government officials.

Scammers may claim you owe money, have a warrant, or need to make a payment to avoid arrest. They often pressure victims into sending money through non-traditional methods such as prepaid gift cards, wire transfers, or digital payment apps. In some cases, they may even "spoof" phone numbers to make it appear as though the call is coming from a legitimate source.

We want to be clear: The Shreveport Police Department will never call or text you to solicit money, request payment of fines, or demand gift cards. Anyone who asks you to pay them using gift cards is attempting to scam you.

If you receive a suspicious call or message:

• Do not provide any personal or financial information.
• Hang up immediately or delete the message.