Has someone called you and asked you to buy a gift card? Be wary, it could be a scam.
Asking for gift cards is one way scammers are tricking residents out of their money. Scammers often claim the victim is in trouble with the police or has a family member who is in trouble. They’ll claim the victim can solve the issue by purchasing a gift card and sharing the PIN number with the scammer.
Some other common scenarios include:
- Pay for a family member in trouble
- Pay bail or ransom
- Avoid arrest
- Pay a tax debt
- Keep utilities running
Scammers will typically tell a victim that they need the gift card immediately. They’ll ask you not to tell anyone about the request. They also will tell you which specific gift card they want and ask you to provide the number on the gift card along with the PIN.
Remember, gift cards are for gifts NOT payment. Always keep your receipt to help with reporting and never share the code or PIN number on the back of your gift card.