Watch out for Gift Card Scams

Knowing the red flags of a gift card scam may save you from sending a scammer your hard-earned cash. Here are a few ways a criminal may approach you:

They claim to be collecting a debt. Scammers may claim to be from the IRS and tell them you owe money. Or they may pretend to be from Social Security and tell you there’s a problem with your account. Be aware: “No legitimate government agency will ever accept payment in the form of gift card,” says Pitt.

They claim to be tech support. You may get a pop-up ad or an email from scammers who pretend to be from a tech company warning that your computer has been infected by a virus or a security service on your computer is about to expire. They’ll ask you to pay for their assistance in gift cards.

They imitate your boss or a friend. They ask you to do them a favor and buy gift cards for clients or to get them out of a jam. “Because of the amount of deep fakes that are going on with voice and video … you shouldn’t trust (that call),” says Pitt. Phone your boss or your friend back at the phone number you have for them. The same goes for any calls you get from a grandchild who appears to be in distress and says they need money immediately.

They ask for an emergency loan. A romantic partner you’ve gotten close to online, but never met in person, may suddenly seek a loan for a crisis.

They are selling something. Someone claims to be selling puppies, may ask for payment in gift cards Criminals also lurk on resale and auction websites, ostensibly offering goods at an attractive discount. They may also create fake shopping websites imitating a known retailer. Once they get you interested in buying, they’ll ask you to pay with a gift card. As soon as they get the card number and PIN, they vanish, and so does the money on the card.

They demand fees. A phony representative from a sweepstakes tells you you’ve won big, but need to pay taxes and fees. Only scammers ask you to pay fees, back taxes or bills for services with gift cards.

They offer phony giveaways. You get an email or text, supposedly from a familiar store or organization (including, on occasion, AARP), saying you’ve won a gift card. To claim it, you just need to provide contact information, click through to a website or answer a few survey questions, often about your finances or health.

They steal the card’s PIN. Criminals have also developed ways to drain the cash from gift cards. Not surprisingly, these scams spike around the holidays. Thieves go to stores and surreptitiously scratch off the film strip on the back to get the PIN, which they cover back up with easy-to-obtain replacement stickers.

How to protect yourself from this scam

Mind where you buy. When buying cards, you plan to use yourself or give as presents, purchase them directly from the business that issued them. If you buy online, “Don't purchase it from a company that says ‘we specialize in digital gift cards.’ …  Right now, it's too hard to tell which ones aren't legitimate,” says Pitt.

Doublecheck the value. lt’s always a good idea to check that the funds are there before leaving the store, says McGovern. And if you are buying several gift cards during the holiday season, “Make sure each and every one is scanned at the register,” says McGovern. And if you receive one, “Don’t let it sit. Treat it like cash."

Keep the receipt. “Hang on to that receipt any kind of documentation in case something does go wrong,” says McGovern.

Avoid the racks. Cards on store racks can be tampered with and spotting which one’s have been opened and had their value stolen isn’t always easy. “Criminals are getting really good at making sure you can't tell if the package has been tampered with,” says Pitt. It’s safest to buy from places that keep gift cards behind the counter, says McGovern.

Don’t pay via gift cards. Pitt suggests offering a different payment method if someone asks for payment via gift card, “Something like credit card … that can easily be tracked or refunded. If they say, no, it's a scam.”

Protect your personal information. Be careful not to share bank account numbers or social security with anyone in exchange for a gift card.

How to report problems

Immediately contact the retailer that issued a gift card you used to pay a suspected scammer. If money remains on the card, you might be able to get it back. You often will find contact information on the card.

Report the theft to local law enforcement, as well as the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, and your state's attorney general. The more information authorities have, the better they can identify patterns, link cases and ultimately catch the criminals.  

Call the free AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline (877-908-3360) to speak with trained specialists who can provide support and guidance on what to do next and how to avoid scams in the future. The AARP Fraud Watch Network also offers online group support sessions for those who have been a victim of a scam.

This story, originally published in 2021, has been updated with advice from experts.