Beware of Gift Card Scams This Holiday Season
Told to pay with a gift card? It’s a scam!
Did someone tell you to pay a bill or a fine with a gift card? Don’t do it! It’s a scam! No real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay them. Know what to look for to avoid a gift card scam.
Gift card scams start with a text message, phone call, email or social media message. The sender will say they are from a government agency or company you know. They’re not. They say to pay right away or something terrible will happen. It won’t.
I have received numerous urgent fake emails or text messages from companies like PayPal or Wels Fargo or Amazon. Sometimes I have an actual account, sometimes I don’t. They know some who receive their mass messages WILL have an account and get scared. Don’t fall for it. Hit DELETE!
Scammer messages appear urgent. They are meant to scare you. They will tell you which gift cards to buy and where to buy them. Sometimes they will stay on the phone with you while you go to the store to get the gift card. Then they have you read them the numbers off the gift card, and trust me on this, they cash out that card ASAP! Once the card number is given out, you have virtually zero chance of recovering those funds.
If you get a message, hit delete. If you get a phone call, hang up!
And to assure there is no legitimate scam, check your account or visa card that “appeared” threatened. You can even call a TRUSTED number to the business (such as your financial institution) to confirm no one has accessed your account. Do NOT call the number they tell you to call, it is fake. Don’t go to the website they tell you to click on, it is fake.
And if you do fall victim to a scam, report it to the gift card company. You can even ask for your money back. It’s worth asking.
And tell the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
To read the full Consumer Alert click HERE and know exactly what to look for and what to do if you are approached by a scammer.
If you want to feel more in control of your finances and understand the importance of account and credit monitoring for fraud prevention, let’s meet! Click HERE to schedule your personal financial coaching session.
If you would like to meet, CLICK HERE to schedule your Personal Financial Coaching session.
Lisa Atkinson
TFCU | Personal Financial Coach
latkinson@colleensflowercellar.com
As a Personal Financial Coach, I do not provide legal or tax advice. Tucson Federal Credit Union does not guarantee that this service will achieve any particular objective or outcome. For any legal advice, please seek the advice of an attorney or tax professional.
