Gift Card Scams to Avoid

Gift Card Scams to Avoid: A Guide to Secure Gifting

Gift Card Scams to Avoid: A Guide to Secure Gifting

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Do you know consumers lose more than $5 billion a year because of frauds linked to gift cards? This number is a huge cause of concern for many people worldwide and many of them don’t even know these exist.

These frauds occur when someone impersonates familiar brands or officials or a family member so that the victim can be persuaded easily. All it takes is one good minute and the victim is all in.

To save you from this, we’ve researched the 6 common gift scams that you should definitely keep an eye out for. Keep reading.

6 Gift Card Scams You Should Avoid

For your safety, here are six gift card scams that typically happen so make sure you don’t fall prey to these after reading about it.

1. Imposter Calls Demanding Gift Cards

Imposter Calls Demanding Gift Cards

These scammers often pretend to be officials from a trusted organization, for instance, any government agency, utility company, or even tech support. These people create a panic and tell the victim that they owe money and if they don’t clear it as soon as possible, they’ll have to face serious consequences.

That’s where many people get scared and pay them using a gift card because they ask for it specifically. These scammers also stay on the call through the buying process as well so you don’t get the time to talk to anyone about it.

In such cases, hang up the phone immediately and call the organization on their official number to confirm. Try not to give gift card details over the phone, no matter how urgent or scary it might sound.

2. Gift Cards Tampered with at Stores

Sometimes the scammers physically change gift cards at stores by covering the original barcodes with fake ones or scratching off the real codes and covering it with fake stickers. The problem with these cards is when you purchase them, the funds are activated on the scammer’s account.

Always remember to run your fingers over the card once or twice to make sure it isn’t tampered with. You can also ask the cashier to confirm the balance before purchase and always ask for a receipt.

If you want to get good deals on gift cards, try to only visit official and reliable sites. There you can find gift cards related to almost everything, ranging from Amazon, streaming, and even cryptocurrency.

3. Fake Charities Asking for Gift Card Donations

Fake Charities Asking for Gift Card Donations

Scammers don’t care about anything which is why they quite oftenly try to exploit people’s kindness. These people create fake charity campaigns, especially during the holidays and ask for donations in the form of gift cards.

Many people find it to be genuine and send some money to help the people in need, not knowing what’s happening on the backend. If you’re ever stuck in such a scenario, try using websites like Charity Navigator or the Better Business Bureau to check if it’s authentic.

Never forget, legitimate charities never ask for donations in the form of gift cards.

4. Fake Gift Card Balance Check Websites

Now, to go one step further, some scammers create websites that appear to be legitimate balance checkers. Once you enter your card number and PIN here, they steal the balance in the blink of an eye.

If you want to check the balance of your gift card, always use the official website of the card issuer and nowhere else. You can also use the number given on the back of these cards to inquire about the remaining balance.

5. Friend or Family Member in “Emergency” Requesting Gift Cards

When it comes to friends and family, no one thinks twice before helping. This is something scammers know as well which is why they hack emails and social media accounts to send out messages claiming to be that friend and ask for help. They ask for gift cards to keep their real identity anonymous

If something like this ever happens to you, contact the person immediately on another channel, such as a phone call, to make sure the request is genuine. If they don’t know what you’re talking about, tell them their account is hacked and they need to change their password quickly.

6. Overpayment or Refund Scams Using Gift Cards

Overpayment or Refund Scams Using Gift Cards

For this last scam the fraudsters claim that they have mistakenly paid you more money and ask you to return it as a gift card. Don’t be fooled by such tricks. These scams usually happen through fake customer service calls or phishing emails.

Quickly contact the involved company in such a scenario and ask them if that’s actually the case. Don’t hesitate for even a second.

Summing Up

These gift card scammers are on another level of creativity now. The only way you can save yourself now is by being aware of how these things happen. Always remember that gift cards are only for gifts and not for any other purpose. If someone insists on using it as a payment method, block them because it’s surely a scam.

Author Profile

Dinesh Kumar VM
Dinesh Kumar VM, born and raised in India. Experienced Digital Marketing Consultant. Skilled in Blogging, SEO & Paid Campaigns. Wrote & published various books related to SEO, Web Development & Google AdWords. Dinesh Kumar VM, Skilled SEO Consultant has nearly a decade of Experience in Search Engine Optimization. Dinesh is also author in many premium UK based Business Blogs and Magazines.