Panama man loses over $100,000 after falling for three gift card scams - KOLN | Nebraska Local News, Weather, Sports | Lincoln, NE

Summary

A 56-year-old man from Panama lost over $100,000 after falling for three gift card scams between April 2023 and an unspecified end date. The scammer, who introduced himself as "James," contacted the victim via Google Chat, claiming to represent the FFA and telling him he had won money but needed to purchase Apple gift cards to claim it. Over 120 weeks, the victim sent $450 each week, totaling $54,000, before questioning the scam. At that point, the scammer allegedly threatened the victim with jail or job loss if he stopped sending money. This was the third time the victim had been targeted in a similar scam involving Apple gift cards. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office warned that any request to pay to claim winnings is a scam.