Greenback Newsletter

Scammers demand gift cards

Remember, gift cards are for gifts, not for payments.  If someone contacts you and encourages you to pay them with a gift card it is scam.  If you have already paid someone with a gift card you should report it as soon as possible.  For more information, please see the FTC article at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/10/scammers-demand-gift-cards?utm_source=govdelivery.

Gift cards and reload cards are the #1 payment method for imposter scams. More scammers are demanding payment with a gift card. The percentage of consumers who told the FTC they paid a scammer with a gift card has increased 270% since 2015. Reports to the FTC say scammers are telling people to buy gift cards at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS and other retail shops. 42% of people who paid a scammer with a gift card used iTunes or Google Play. Federal Trade Commission. ftc.gov/complaint. ftc.gov/giftcards