American Woman Scammed at Woolworths
- American woman scammed for $3,000 at Woolworths checkout.
- She received an email from her boss asking for her phone number on her day off.
- The scam resulted in financial loss and potential identity theft.
A US expatriate, Melanie Albert, has lost $3,000 to a scam after mistakenly believing she was communicating with her boss. Originally from Austin, Texas, Albert, who has been living in Sydney since 2019, was contacted via WhatsApp on her day off by someone posing as her employer. The assistant manager at a popular Sydney restaurant was asked for her phone number, which she provided, leading to a series of messages that ultimately resulted in her financial loss. The scam began innocently enough, with the impersonator inquiring about her day and then requesting information about Apple gift card denominations. Albert was instructed to purchase a $500 gift card, with the promise of reimbursement. Trusting the messages, she complied and sent the activation code. However, the situation escalated when she was asked to buy an additional $2,000 worth of gift cards. Alarm bells began to ring when she attempted to call the number, but received no response. Realizing something was amiss, Albert checked the original email from her supposed boss and discovered a critical spelling error in the email address. This revelation left her feeling foolish and devastated, as she now faces financial uncertainty, unable to afford her stay in Australia or a return to the US. The incident highlights the growing prevalence of scams targeting individuals, particularly those living abroad.