Apple Gift Card Scam

Last updated 24 March 2026

Well, it's an oldie but a goodie and it's 4 years since I published my last Apple Gift Card scam so here is the latest, big thanks to Pat Beinke who is happy for me to share her experience

It started with an email

From: Pat Beinke <patbeinke8@bigpond.com>
reply-to: patbeinke88@outlook.com

Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 09:07

Subject: Are u here

To: <greg@lincolncomputercentre.com.au>

I'm unable to speak over the phone due to serious throat pain caused by laryngitis. I need an urgent request from you.

Let me know once you receive this email,

Pat Beinke.

Observations:

The scammer gets on the front foot early with an inability to speak so a phone call is out of the question
The sender email address is genuine, the scammer was able to compromise Pat's BigPond mailbox and send several hundred emails to her contacts
A significant number of her contacts replied to her correct email address to advise regarding the scam, as did I
We checked her mailbox but the scammer did not leave any filters or forwarding addresses in place which is unusual
The scammer was happy to sned a bulk email with a different reply-to email address
So any replies would go to the scammer

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 09:24, Greg Williams <greg@alt255.space> wrote:

Yes I am, what's up Pat?

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 09:29, Pat Beinke <patbeinke88@outlook.com> wrote:

Thanks for responding. I need to get an APPLE GIFT CARDS for a friend of mine who is diagnosed with stage 4 mesothelioma cancer, it's her birthday but I can't do this now because I'm currently out of town. I tried purchasing online but unfortunately had no luck with that. I was wondering if you could help me get it from any store around you, and I'll reimburse you when I get back.

Please let me know if you can do this for me.

Pat.

Observations:

I am now conversing with the scammer via a free email address created by the scammer to resemble Pat's real email address
So from this point on, "Pat" is actually the scammer
So now we get the sob story combined with a birthday and therefore a present in the form of an Apple Gift Card
The scammer is also on the front foot saying they had trouble buying online hence the request for help
The reimbursement offer sounds like a fair deal

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 09:38, Greg Williams <greg@alt255.space> wrote:

Very sorry to hear that Pat, Stage 4 is the worst diagnosis.

I too had a close friend with cancer, stage 4 of Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis which I can't even spell, let alone pronounce! It was easier to just call it lung cancer. He died and I was very sad about that

Since we have several stores in Port Lincoln, I can do this for you quite easily

Regards

Greg

Observations:

Nothing is too much trouble for me!
Note that I one-upped the scammer with an even sadder cancer story where I Googled to find out the longest cancer name I could find

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 09:43, Pat Beinke <patbeinke88@outlook.com> wrote:

Thanks very much. I really appreciate your kind gestures. Apple gift cards are available at all stores. Total amount needed is $500. How soon are you able to get it done today?

Observations:

The $500 price point is reasonable, the last customer we assisted with an Apple Gift Card scam bought 4 x $500 cards for a total of $2000
Note the sense of urgency

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 09:51, Greg Williams <greg@lincolncomputercentre.com.au> wrote:

Yep, I can do that by lunch time, easy peasy

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 10:06, Pat Beinke <patbeinke88@outlook.com> wrote:

That sounds good, let me know when you get it, I will then let you know how to get it to me.

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 10:20, Greg Williams <greg@lincolncomputercentre.com.au> wrote:

Yep heading off now, prolly an hour before I have them

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 10:30, Pat Beinke <patbeinke88@outlook.com> wrote:

Thank you so much!

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 11:17, Pat Beinke <patbeinke88@outlook.com> wrote:

Any luck so far?

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 11:19, Greg Williams <greg@lincolncomputercentre.com.au> wrote:

Yes, just got back. It took a little longer because they expressed concern this might be a scam but I told them I know you well so we are good

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 11:28, Pat Beinke <patbeinke88@outlook.com> wrote:

Sounds good, I need you to open the cardboard to reveal the card with the pins, then take a photo of the back of the card showing the pin and have it emailed to me.

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 11:32, Greg Williams <greg@alt255.space> wrote:

They told me at the shop I only needed the number so I wrote it down and left the card with them. They said the card was unimportant unless I planned to post it somewhere and once the number is known it's worthless. I hope I have not messed this up for you

The number is X3NV-42K9-DZKP-NR4Q

Observations:

My comment about the scam warning at the store did not generate a response from the scammer
I got the above code off the Internet, it is a used Gift Card number, so I was busted with regard to sending a photo of the card
My explanation seems reasonable so far....

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 11:36, Pat Beinke <patbeinke88@outlook.com> wrote:

Ok that's fine, I will send this to her now and get back to you.

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 11:39, Greg Williams <greg@lincolncomputercentre.com.au> wrote:

Just going to lunch myself, back soon

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 11:43, Pat Beinke <patbeinke88@outlook.com> wrote:

I sent it to her already and she said the code has been used by another loader.

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 12:17, Greg Williams <greg@lincolncomputercentre.com.au> wrote:

What? How can that be?

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 12:21, Pat Beinke <patbeinke88@outlook.com> wrote:

That was the reply I got from her. Where did you drop the card? I guess someone used it there.

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 12:35, Pat Beinke <patbeinke88@outlook.com> wrote:

Or what did you think happened? please get back to me.

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 13:06, Pat Beinke <patbeinke88@outlook.com> wrote:

Let me know what is happening please. I will cover the lost you don't have to worry about anything.

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 13:40, Greg Williams <greg@alt255.space> wrote:

Do I have to go and buy another one?

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 14:07, Greg Williams <greg@alt255.space> wrote:

It may have been a bad mistake on my part to leave the card at the shop, I did not think for a moment anyone else would use the card

I will go back and buy another, give me about half an hour

On Tue, 24 Mar 2026 at 14:39, Greg Williams <greg@alt255.space> wrote:

I have the new card, do you still need it? No matter if you do not, I need a new iPhone!

Observations:

I was trying not to use my greg@lincolncomputercentre.com.au email address, it tends to give the game away early!
But I blew it early in the last convo which may explain why the scammer has gone quiet
I have now found a photo of a recent used Apple Gift Card so if the scammer comes back....

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