Scammers use email, social media messages, and phone calls to convince victims to purchase gift cards they then redeem for cash. Furthermore, they will pose as utilities providers and threaten service disconnection unless payment via gift card is made immediately.
Legitimate government agencies and businesses do not accept gift card payments as payment; any attempt at such demand would likely be fraudulent.
Scammers send unsolicited emails or texts claiming that gift cards are needed to pay debts, fees or obligations owed. Posing as law enforcement officials, utility companies or tech support experts they create an urgent sense of fear by telling you you will be arrested, fined or have service cut off if payment isn’t made immediately. They instruct consumers to buy gift cards at various stores while taking photos of each back for later analysis by the scammer claiming you owe a debt before redirecting you to fake activation websites which redirect to legitimate websites already compromised and drain your card value before your even realize it exists!
Cybercriminals gain entry to an individual’s email or social media accounts and use the information available about the victim to them in order to request gift cards under false pretences from friends, family or people they met through dating websites.
If an honest person needs money, they usually provide multiple payment options other than gift cards. Never send or wire money or gift cards to those you haven’t met directly and if unsure whether a message you received is valid contact them directly by phone or email to verify their identity.
Social Media
Fake giveaway scams have long been one of the most widespread forms of online fraud. They typically begin as text, email or social media posts promising money, goods or expensive prizes in exchange for either a small fee or your personal data. Fraudsters create believable bait websites which masquerade behind legitimate names to make their counterfeit giveaways look credible while hiding behind a mask which is difficult to detect.
Information access comes through several avenues to cybercriminals, including hacking your email or social media platforms and masquerading as your friends or relatives to request gift card transactions. To gain access to online platforms, they may utilize phishing strategies on sites like Amazon or Craigslist and demand payments directly for gift cards instead of doing the transactions themselves.
Scammers often create an immediate sense of urgency to convince victims to send gift cards by falsely claiming to represent utility providers and demanding you send gift cards immediately or risk having your services suspended. For instance, scammers could pose as utility providers and assert you owe hundreds in fees; you must send these as payment – otherwise they risk cutting off access entirely!
Avoid purchasing or selling gift cards on sites without buyer protection, such as Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Use only reputable card-selling sites offering buyer protection, and only deal with trusted individuals in person. Also be wary of giveaways with only an online form to fill out and no contact details listed; legitimate businesses ensure their giveaways are shared across social media, websites and newsletters to increase exposure.
Websites
Cybercriminals use websites to trick their victims into giving gift cards. They may pose as family, tech support agents or government officials and create an urgency by saying you owe taxes, need money for speeding tickets or utility bills right away – then ask you for gift card numbers and PINs so they can drain your accounts of funds.
This manipulation is achieved by people making deals on gift cards that are already opened and re-glued together, conveniently hiding the serial number and PIN numbers for the unscrupulous buyers… this of course applies to any merciless seller that resorts to cheap methods like posting on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Even worse, people going by the name of your boss or one of your coworkers at the office resort to asking for gift cards to be purchased under false premises that reimbursement will be paid out afterwards. When buying gift cards in stores from publicly displayed racks, be wary when selecting those with resealed packaging or boxes without clear seals; always buy them at register or online instead! Additionally, research charities before giving any donations – only give gift cards with full bar codes visible such as having been unsealed after previous use.
Phone Calls
Scammers frequently contact victims by phone and request gift cards as payment. They may pose as government agencies, law enforcement officials, utilities providers or online sellers, falsely claiming you’ve won a contest or sweepstakes that requires fees be paid before receiving the prize. Scammers might also pose as banks and credit card companies and suggest buying gift cards as payments instead of real ones; real banks don’t suggest doing this either and won’t contact victims asking them for them!
Some scammers will call and claim they’re tech support specialists or security personnel, convincing you your device has a virus and needing gift cards purchased with numbers and PINs sent back to them for repair. This scammers’ aim is usually to gain personal data such as passwords or account numbers so they can gain entry to accounts and steal funds by means of popups on devices, text messages or calls directly into victims’ phones.
Scammers may pose as your boss or coworker and demand you purchase gift cards for them immediately. Under pressure from them to act fast quickly, and even threaten legal action or the switch-off of utilities if you refuse, don’t hesitate to ask questions and monitor bank and credit card statements regularly for suspicious activity.
