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Judge Rules Apple May Benefit from Gift Card Scams

When it comes to scams, the gift card scam is one of the most common tactics for con-artists impersonating the IRS. Now, a judge has sided with a group of victims who argue that Apple from may benefit from these scams and should do more to combat them.To get more news about 海外充值抖音, you can visit nnxwheels.com official website.

Victims of the Apple gift card scam filed a class action lawsuit alleging that the tech giant profits from cards that are obtained fraudulently. The suit also claims that Apple is in a position to block the use of them and provide refunds to those that purchased the cards. Apple has asked for the case to be dismissed. U.S. District Judge Edward Davila has denied this motion.
How Gift Card Scams Work
Typically, how an Apple gift card scam works is that a victim receives a call from a scammer claiming to work for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The victim is told that there is a problem with their tax filing. Should the problem not be fixed immediately, the victim is informed they may face arrest. When they ask how to arrange payment, the con-artist tells the victim to purchase Apple gift cards (either Store or iTunes) and pass the information to the caller.

Now, obviously the IRS will never ask you to pay them in gift cards. However, those less tech savvy and under duress may fall for the scam in a moment of panic.

Once the scammer acquires the card, what happens next depends. With Store cards, scammers are able to purchase products with high value, such as laptops and smartphones. The scammers then sell the items for a profit. On the other hand, iTunes gift cards work differently. Typically, the scammer will purchase apps that they own in the App Store. That way, they receive 70% or 85% of the money paid by Apple.

However a scammer slices it, the cards see immediate use, and the victim’s money vanishes. Variations of this scam also include messages that a relative or a friend urgently needs assistance, or that the victim may be taken to court over an unpaid bill.
The Lawsuit Against Apple
Back in 2020, several victim filed a class action lawsuit against Apple. The victims argue that the company is in a position to partially or fully refund the money, especially in the case of iTunes gift cards. The victims argue that Apple refuses to help.

According to Scribd, the lawsuit states that Apple informs victims of the scam that the company is unable to provide assistance once the money has been spent. However, the lawsuit argues this isn’t true. Actually, Apple holds 100% of the funds for a 4-to-6 week period. This time is between the apps being purchased and Apple paying the developer. It is during this time that the lawsuit claims Cupertino is in a position to refund 100% of the card value.

Furthermore, thanks to the 30% commission Apple takes, the company would also be in a position to refund at least that much. This holds true even if the scammer has been paid.

It is also worth noting that many victims of scams are elderly, so in this case, three of the eleven counts accuse Apple of violating laws designed to protect the elderly from financial abuse.

Apple has made a filing toward a motion to have the case dismissed on a number of grounds. The first being that gift cards are sold with a published refund policy. This policy dictates that no refund is possible after redeeming a card. A judge has dismissed this motion, meaning the case will proceed.

'Everything Apple' Gift Card Now Available in Several European Countries

The card can be used at the App Store and other online services, but it can also be used to buy products and accessories in the Apple Store.To get more news about 充值猫耳fm, you can visit nnxwheels.com official website.

Apple launched the gift card in 2020 for U.S. customers, and last year expanded its availability to Canada and Australia. Dutch blog iCulture.nl spotted the card's new availability in Europe.

Before the single gift card arrived, there were two separate Apple gift cards available: iTunes cards, which can be used for ‌‌App Store‌‌, iTunes Store, and iCloud storage purchases, and ‌‌Apple Store‌‌ gift cards, used for buying goods at Apple's online and brick-and-mortar retail stores.

Apple has a dedicated page on its regional websites explaining what the card does and how it can be used. "Products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, ‌‌iCloud‌‌, and more. This gift card does it all. And then some," reads the tagline.

Customers can decide what amount they want on the cards, which can also be used to add money directly into an Apple Account Balance for paying for things like Apple products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, and more.

The cards have a distinctive design, with colored Apple logos. There are a total of five designs, and the cards can be purchased, personalized and received via email using Apple's online purchase portal.