Gift Card Scams – All you need to know!

What is a Gift Card Scam?

It is a type of fraud in which scammers trick victims into purchasing gift cards and then giving the information to them. They can do this by phone, email, or in person. Scammers use social engineering tactics to manipulate people into giving them what they want, in this case, gift card information. Gift cards may be requested as payment for a deal or prize, or the scammers may pose as a legitimate business or government agency. They may also ask for personal information, such as Social Security numbers or bank account details, which can be used for identity theft.

Recognize a gift card scam!

Gift card scams can be difficult to recognize, but there are some common warning signs to look for. The scammer may try to pressure you or rush you into making a purchase without giving you time to think it through. They may also ask you to buy a specific type of gift card from a specific store, or ask you to provide pictures of the card or the receipt. Additionally, they may claim that they can give you a discount if you buy the card and provide them with the code or PIN.

If any of these things happen, it’s a sign that it’s a scam. Lastly, never give out your personal information, such as your credit card number or bank account details, when purchasing a gift card.

Here are some tips tp stay safe from gift card scam:

• It is not good idea to give out gift card numbers, pins, or passwords to anyone.
• Decline any unsolicited demands for payment by gift card online or over the phone.
• Inspect the sender’s email address to confirm it’s actually coming from that person.
• Always review, verify, and scrutinize any message from your boss requesting gift-card purchases.
• Make sure to stay up to date on the different types of tricks scammers like to pull.
• Don’t click any suspicious links or attachments in emails, on websites, or on social media.
• As soon as you get an email like that, call your boss.
• Don’t pay anyone who demands to be paid with a gift card.
• Don’t send money or gifts to anyone you haven’t met in person.
• If you get a check for more than you expected, don’t deposit it.

If you believe you have received a phishing email, do not click on any links or attachments within the message and take immediate action.

If you are a client of ours, contact our service desk team right away.

As a Managed Service Provider (MSP), we offer specialized cybersecurity services that include better protection against phishing. We also do phishing awareness training for education and simulated phishing to access your current risk as an organization. Testing allows us to introduce training to the people who need it the most.

Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you better secure your organization and staff!