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The Rogue Valley Youth For Christ is out $1,000 today after a scammer posing as the group’s executive director in texts bilked two newer employees in a gift-card scam. “Obviously, whoever did this would take advantage of others,” said Bud Amundsen, the organization’s executive director. “Hopefully folks who learn of this won’t fall prey to the same scam.” The con began around 5:30 a.m. when the first of 17 staff members began receiving texts purported to be from Amundsen asking them to buy iTune gift cards for which they would be reimbursed, Amundsen said. Two of the employees fell for it, with one buying gift cards at Target and another at a local Walgreens, Amundsen said. The employees were told to send photographs of the cards’ activation numbers and send them to 914-292-4854, Amundsen said. An Internet search shows the number, which includes a New York area code, has been associated with past scams. Several employees questioned Amundsen about the texts and the jig was up when one of the duped employees submitted a reimbursement request, he said. Amundsen declined to identify the employees. Amundsen said the scammer likely lifted employee phone numbers from the organization’s web site, where the numbers are readily available as part of the group’s outreach work with teens.