Gift Card Scams
Get informed. Not taken.
Protect yourself against fraud by knowing the facts.
- The government will never:
- Ask you to pay off a fine, balance, or supposed debt with gift cards
- Ask you to pay anything up front to get money, a credit, or a refund
- Demand that you pay a debt immediately
- Call and ask for your Social Security number, bank account information, or credit card number
- Threaten to arrest you or withhold services for not providing personal information or ask you to purchase gift cards
- Stay with you on the phone while you purchase gift cards or encourage you to visit several stores to make multiple purchases
- Ask you to provide gift card numbers and codes over the phone. Once the scammers have these details, your money is gone
Consumer Tips in Multiple Languages from the FTC
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