Denver, Colorado — An 80-year-old woman says she lost approximately $36,000 in a gift card scam after criminals posed as Apple support staff and a Chase Bank representative, leaving her facing a disputed $10,000 credit card balance that could affect her retirement.
Her experience comes as Colorado reports a sharp increase in financial scams targeting older adults. According to figures attributed to the FBI, the number of Colorado residents aged 60 and older who reported financial losses from scams increased by 94% between 2024 and 2025. Scammers reportedly stole nearly $150 million from older Coloradans, accounting for almost half of the $355 million in fraud losses reported statewide.
The woman, who has asked not to be identified, is now sharing her story to warn other people about how convincing these schemes can be.
A Frightening Computer Alert Started the Scam
The incident began in late May when the woman was checking her email and her computer suddenly produced a loud warning. The message instructed her not to turn off the device and displayed a phone number to call.
“It happened at the end of May this year,” she said. “The message was, ‘Don’t turn your computer off or it will damage your computer.’ Because the sound is startling, I didn’t turn it off. I called the number.”
The man who answered claimed to work for Apple. He allegedly told her that her computer had been hacked and accused her of being connected to a child pornography website where one of her credit cards had supposedly been used.
The accusation frightened her, particularly because she had no knowledge of the alleged activity.
“He said, ‘While you ok’d it at 4:30 a.m. yesterday or this morning,'” she recalled. “I said, ‘I didn’t,’ because I didn’t.”
The caller then claimed he was connecting her with Chase Bank so the supposed security problem could be resolved.
Scammers Directed Her to Buy Gift Cards
The woman said the next person she spoke with identified himself as a bank employee and sounded convincing enough that she believed the situation was legitimate.
“I just assumed because he said he was a Chase agent that it was legitimate,” she said.
The supposed bank representative then instructed her to purchase gift cards.
“He told me, ‘Go in and make a purchase with your card of 10 gift cards for $250 each,'” she said. “I didn’t question it. I just did it.”
She purchased the cards and provided their numbers over the phone. The instructions continued, with the caller telling her when to return home and when to be ready for another trip.
“He would say, ‘OK, you can go home,'” she said. “So, ok, I went home. He’d say, ‘I’ll call you in the morning. Be ready to go at 8:30 a.m.'”
Over three days, she visited more than a dozen Sephora stores across the Denver metropolitan area, including locations inside Kohl’s department stores.
About $10,000 Remains in Disputed Charges
The purchases eventually added up to approximately $26,000 on her Chase credit card, with another $10,000 charged to other credit cards.
The other credit card companies reversed the fraudulent charges. Chase also reversed some transactions but declined to reimburse approximately $10,000, according to the woman’s account.
Her friend, Don Hartmann, a financial adviser, began questioning why the remaining amount had not been reversed.
“I asked them why they did not reverse this last $10,000,” Hartmann said. “They said, ‘Well, they were from Kohl’s, and it looks like she was just shopping at Kohl’s.'”
Hartmann questioned why the repeated purchases had not raised concerns.
“How they could not identify this as part of the same scam, it’s the same person,” he said. “It goes on for three days. How do you let anybody charge $26,000 on credit cards? Each one was $250. Each store was exactly the same amount of money.”
The woman is retired and relies largely on Social Security income. She says the outstanding balance could have a significant impact on her finances.
“If I have to pay this $10,000, it’s going to make a big difference in my retirement,” she said.
Woman Shares Warning After Emotional Ordeal
Beyond the financial loss, the experience has left the woman struggling with feelings of regret and disbelief.
“Each time I have told this story, it brings deep emotions, and it brings tears to my eyes because I just can’t believe that I fell for it,” she said.
She hopes speaking publicly will prevent others from experiencing the same situation.
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“I thought I was pretty streetwise and intelligent and that I wouldn’t fall for it,” she said. “Don’t think you’re too smart to fall for it.”
She has reported the scam and contacted Sephora. A request for comment was sent to Sephora regarding any internal policies designed to identify potentially fraudulent purchases.
How Older Adults Can Recognize Gift Card Scams
This case highlights several warning signs consumers should take seriously. Unexpected computer alerts directing people to call a phone number, accusations designed to create panic, and instructions to purchase gift cards are all reasons to stop and independently verify what is happening.
Legitimate technical support staff and bank representatives do not require customers to pay for security assistance by purchasing gift cards and sharing the redemption codes.
Anyone who encounters a similar warning should avoid calling the number displayed in the alert, refrain from sharing financial information, and contact their bank or technology provider using an independently verified number.
Have you or someone you know encountered a suspicious computer warning or gift card scam? Share your experience in the comments to help others recognize the warning signs before they lose their money.
