A San Diego family says a scam is being made worse by a tech giant.
Elar Canani is 82-years-old. He lives in Talmadge with his wife of more than half a century.
“Golly, time went too fast!” Canani said.
It’s a life with a good family.
“We worry about the kids,” Canani said.
When Canani got a call from someone he thought was his grandson, he didn’t hesitate.
“He says 'I’m in trouble… They found drugs so now, I’m in court. We need bail money,'” Canani said
The caller asked for $2,000 in iTunes gift cards. Elar wanted to help his grandson, so he bought them and gave the caller the cards’ codes and pin numbers.
The couple did not know what iTunes was before the call.
The next day, Canani got another call asking for more in iTunes cards for bail.
“I never [heard of] a case when they give you a bail, it doesn’t go up,” Canani said.
Canani didn’t share the cards’ information this time, but he already bought $2,000 more worth of iTunes cards. He filed a police report, although he figured he already lost the first $2,000.
Canani and his son are trying to work with Apple.
“I don’t want the money. I just want credit to buy a computer, a cellular phone, whatever from Apple,” Canani said.
Canani’s current computer is outdated.
“I can use a new one,” Canani said.
His son said he received an email from Apple that said the “gift card is not eligible for an exchange.”
“It’s frustrating because it’s been long enough. Two and a half months since this happened,” said Canani’s son, Maynard Carrillo.
“Apple, they’re trying to scam me too,” Canani said.
He has never downloaded music and does not know how.
The family says Apple blocked the use of the iTunes cards.
An Apple representative said this is done to avoid further fraud. A spokesperson told Team 10 they are looking into this case.
