Ohio woman loses $632 to Hertz rental car payment scam via fake customer support number and Walmart gift cards

Summary

An Ohio woman was scammed out of over $600 after falling behind on a Hertz rental car payment and contacting a fake customer support number she found online. The scammer, posing as a Hertz representative, convinced her to purchase Walmart gift cards to resolve the issue. She bought two gift cards totaling $632, only to later discover the number was fake and the car was never reactivated. The incident occurred in late 2024 and was reported on December 17. Local authorities advised her to report the fraud to the FTC, but recovering the money proved difficult. The scam highlights the risks of using unverified phone numbers and paying with untraceable gift cards.