LANCASTER COUNTY, Neb. (KOLN) - A Malcolm woman lost $21,000 in a scam that involved purchasing gift cards.

Lancaster County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said the scam began in mid-September. The 71-year-old victim was told by a friend to contact a person through Facebook Messenger to get $150,000.

The woman was reportedly instructed to purchase gift cards more than 107 times and send photos to the person over Messenger.

According to Houchin, businesses where she purchased the gift cards asked her why she was buying so many, and she responded saying they were for her.

Houchin said when the woman spoke to her son, he urged her to report it to authorities.

“We keep saying gift cards, Bitcoin, no legit business is going to have you do that, to pay that way to get a loan,” Houchin s

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