Gift Card and Phone Scam

One of the latest scams that fraudsters are trying to get away with involves asking for payment with a gift card. In this scenario the fraudster may mask their phone number, email address, or website to make it appear that they are a real and recognizable business.  Because business phone numbers are public, a fraudster can easily imitate a phone number using software, to make it appear that the real business is calling you. The fraudster may reach out offering a service, product, or threatening you with legal action if you do not pay them immediately in a specific format, typically a gift card or wire transfer. The key to identifying that this scenario is a scam is the fact that they asked for payment in gift cards. A legitimate business will never call, email, or ask you to make a payment using gift cards. If you find yourself questioning whether a call or email is a scam, your best bet is to contact the business directly from a phone number or website you know is valid, especially if you were not expecting a call from that business.

If you feel you may have been the victim of a gift card scam, call the company where you bought the gift card and report it as a scam as soon as possible. You should also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission.  For more information about avoiding scams please visit: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/09/did-someone-tell-you-pay-gift-cards-its-scam