Related video: Why do scammers love gift cards?

EVANSTON, Ill. (WGN) — An Illinois woman thought she was sending gift cards to actor Kevin Costner in hopes of elevating her financial portfolio. It turns out that she was the latest victim of a scam that federal authorities say has been circulating since at least 2018.

According to police in Evanston, the victim says she sent gift cards totaling $62,000 over a six-month period to someone claiming to be Costner via Telegram, an instant messaging service. The "actor" promised to multiply the victim's investment.

Authorities said she never received the promised cryptocurrency.

The cryptocurrency scam often uses gift cards to deceive victims, with scammers posing as celebrities to lure them into their schemes. The Federal Trade Commission (F

See Full Page