Green Dot MoneyPak Scam, Aug. 11

News release from the Newport PD. The Newport Police Department has received several complaints from citizens regarding a money scan involving “Green Dot MoneyPak” cards. A “Green Dot MoneyPak” card allows the purchaser to load money on the card from another source, such as their checking account. The cards can be loaded up to $500 dollars. The current scam the Newport Police Department has been investigating is similar to other scams out there. The victim of the scams receives a call from someone, usually with a heavy foreign accent, telling the person there is money belonging to the victim and, if they obtain a “Green Dot MoneyPak” card with money on it, the scammer will be able to release the money. The scammer then persuades the victim to give the information from the “Green Dot MoneyPak” card they just purchased, thus allowing the scammer to access the card through an online account. The scammer then transfers the money from the victim over to themselves by information over the internet. This scam continues as long as the victim still falls prey to the scammer and continues to load “Green Dot MoneyPak” cards with money. The story the scammer uses has varied from “Government Bonds” being available, to a new Mercedes car loaded on a truck ready for the victim to pick up in their town as soon as they provide the “Green Dot MoneyPak” card. All the scams center on the “Green Dot MoneyPak” cards, and an empty promise after an exchange of money occurs. The Newport Police Department wants to remind everyone to use caution and be skeptical of these “Green Dot MoneyPak” scams, as well as other Nigerian-based money scams.