Gift card scams are a common type of fraud that can be difficult to spot, as they often involve legitimate-looking websites or emails that appear to be from legitimate retailers or companies. In a gift card scam, a person may be asked to purchase a gift card and provide the card’s serial number and other identifying information to the scammer. The scammer may then use the card’s value or sell the card to another person.
How does a gift card scam work?
There are several ways that gift card scams can occur. A person may receive an email or a message on a social media platform claiming to be from a reputable company, offering a discount or a free gift if they purchase a gift card. The person may be directed to a website to purchase the gift card, but the website may be fake, created by the scammer to steal the person’s payment information.
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Another way that gift card scams can occur is through phone calls. A person may receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from a government agency or a well-known company, stating that the person owes money or has won a prize. The scammer may ask the person to pay the debt or claim the prize by purchasing a gift card and providing the card’s information.
Protect yourself from gift card scams
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Be cautious of unsolicited emails or messages offering discounts or free gifts in exchange for purchasing a gift card. Do not provide payment or personal information to unfamiliar websites or to people who contact you by phone or email. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a government agency or a well-known company, hang up and contact the agency or company directly to verify the call’s legitimacy.
If you believe you’ve been a victim of a gift card scam, report the incident to the proper authorities, such as the police or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Changing your login credentials and account information is also a good idea to protect yourself from future scams.
Here are some telltale signs of gift card scams:
- Unsolicited emails or messages offering discounts or free gifts in exchange for purchasing a gift card.
- Requests to purchase a gift card and provide the card’s serial number or other identifying information.
- Calls from people claiming to be from a government agency or a well-known company stating that you owe money or have won a prize and asking you to pay the debt or claim the prize by purchasing a gift card.
If you encounter any of these signs, be cautious and do not provide payment or personal information. Instead, verify the legitimacy of the offer and the source before proceeding. If you’re unsure whether an offer is legitimate, you can contact the company or agency directly to verify the authenticity of the offer.
Why do scammers prefer gift cards as opposed to other methods of payment?
Scammers prefer gift cards as a method of payment because they offer several advantages for the scammer.
First, gift cards are often untraceable and cannot be easily canceled or refunded, so once a scammer receives the card’s information, they can quickly use or sell the card before the victim realizes that they have been defrauded.
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Scammers never stop devising schemes to separate us from our hard-earned money. So, make sure to sign up for our weekly email scam alerts. TotalScam!™ Alert will notify you as soon new scams are discovered.
Second, gift cards are easy to sell on the black market, so a scammer can quickly convert the card into cash or other forms of currency.
Finally, gift cards do not require the scammer to provide any personal or financial information, so they can remain anonymous while committing the scam.
It’s important to be cautious of any requests to purchase gift cards and provide the card’s information, especially if the request comes from an unfamiliar source. Be sure to verify the legitimacy of the request before proceeding.
Gift Card Scam Blacklist
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FAQ
A gift card scam is a type of fraud in which a person is asked to purchase a gift card and provide the card’s serial number or other identifying information to the scammer. The scammer may then use the card’s value or sell the card to another person.
Gift card scams can occur through emails or messages offering discounts or free gifts in exchange for purchasing a gift card, phone calls from people claiming to be from a government agency or well-known company stating that you owe money or have won a prize and asking you to pay the debt or claim the prize by purchasing a gift card, or websites that appear to be from legitimate retailers or companies but ask for payment or personal information.
Some telltale signs of a gift card scam include unsolicited emails or messages offering discounts or free gifts in exchange for purchasing a gift card, requests to purchase a gift card and provide the card’s serial number or other identifying information, calls from people claiming to be from a government agency or well-known company stating that you owe money or have won a prize and asking you to pay the debt or claim the prize by purchasing a gift card.
To protect yourself from gift card scams, be cautious of unsolicited emails or messages offering discounts or free gifts in exchange for purchasing a gift card, do not provide payment or personal information to unfamiliar websites or to people who contact you by phone or email, and if you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a government agency or well-known company, hang up and contact the agency or company directly to verify the legitimacy of the call.
If you believe you’ve been a victim of a gift card scam, report the incident to the proper authorities, such as the police or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It’s also a good idea to change your login credentials and account information to protect yourself from future scams.
It may be possible to reverse a gift card transaction depending on the circumstances. If you suspect that you have been a victim of a gift card scam, you should contact the retailer or company that issued the gift card as soon as possible to report the issue. They may be able to cancel the card or issue a refund, although it’s important to note that this is not always possible.
It may be possible to get your money back if you’ve been a victim of a gift card scam, depending on the circumstances. If you paid for the gift card using a credit card, you may be able to dispute the charge with your credit card company and potentially receive a refund. If you paid for the gift card using another form of payment, such as a debit card or a bank transfer, it may be more difficult to get your money back.
It can be safe to purchase gift cards online, but it’s important to be cautious and only purchase gift cards from reputable sources. Be sure to verify the legitimacy of the website or retailer before providing payment or personal information.
It’s generally not a good idea to purchase a gift card from a person or company that you do not know, as this can increase the risk of being a victim of a scam. If you’re interested in purchasing a gift card from a company or retailer that you’re not familiar with, it’s important to do your research and verify the legitimacy of the business before proceeding. Look for reviews or testimonials from other customers, check the business’s website and contact information, and be wary of offers that seem too good to be true.
It’s generally safer to purchase gift cards directly from the issuer or a reputable retailer, rather than from a third-party website or vendor. While some third-party websites and vendors may offer legitimate gift cards at a discounted price, there is a higher risk of being scammed or receiving a fraudulent gift card. If you do choose to purchase a gift card from a third-party website or vendor, be sure to verify the legitimacy of the source and be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true.
Attention: Consumers who have been contacted by scammers could have had their personal information breached. TotalScam!™ highly recommends that consumers whose information has been breached obtain an identity theft protection service immediately.
There are several companies that offer identity theft protection in the US. One of the most inexpensive options we were able to find is the protection offered by LifeLock. You can start your protection here.
Disclaimer: The information and opinions contained on this site are not endorsed by LifeLock. TotalScam!™ receives compensation from LifeLock. This helps support our scam prevention efforts.
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