apple itunes gift card scam via geocaching message center

[+MamaHoof]

Has anyone else received an unusual message via the message center recently? I received a message today supposedly from another NZ geocacher that seems to me to be a scam, requesting I help them purchase an apple itunes gift card for a friend's sick daughter. Do I need to report this to GCHQ? It seems like the other cacher may have had their account hacked.

[+Max and 99]

32 minutes ago, MamaHoof said:

Has anyone else received an unusual message via the message center recently? I received a message today supposedly from another NZ geocacher that seems to me to be a scam, requesting I help them purchase an apple itunes gift card for a friend's sick daughter. Do I need to report this to GCHQ? It seems like the other cacher may have had their account hacked.

Um, YES. That just screams scam to me. And possibly being hacked! 

[+MamaHoof]

Thanks Max and 99, I've tried contacting GCHQ about this today. I haven't replied to the message because I believe it to be a scam and will await a response from GCHQ about the security of my account and the account that the message supposedly came from. It's a bit worrying and I'm a little surprised that nobody else seems to have received such a message. Have heard of apple itunes gift card scams via other channels before but was quite surprised to see one via geocaching. I feel like the other geocacher deserves to know about the supposed message I got from them, but not sure if it is safe for me to contact them via the message center. Anyway, thanks for your reply, appreciate it.

[+brekkcaching123]

Literally screaming "I'm a scam contact GCHQ" right into my ears.

[+TeamRabbitRun]

On 6/15/2025 at 7:48 PM, MamaHoof said:

Thanks Max and 99, I've tried contacting GCHQ about this today. I haven't replied to the message because I believe it to be a scam and will await a response from GCHQ about the security of my account and the account that the message supposedly came from. It's a bit worrying and I'm a little surprised that nobody else seems to have received such a message. Have heard of apple itunes gift card scams via other channels before but was quite surprised to see one via geocaching. I feel like the other geocacher deserves to know about the supposed message I got from them, but not sure if it is safe for me to contact them via the message center. Anyway, thanks for your reply, appreciate it.

 

Under NO circumstances should you respond to that message, regardless of whether or not it appears to come from a legitimate cacher account.

Nor should you investigate that account's profile.

 

Simply report it to HQ, pat yourself on the back for being aware and not just dismissing it, and move on.