GFTD’s Post

Remember when we used to hide how much we spent on a gift? We scratched off price stickers, removed tags, and used markers to conceal how much we spent, all to keep the focus on the sentiment rather than the price. That's not what gifting looks like anymore. With gift card fraud, you not only need to tell the recipient how much is on the gift card, but you need to give them proof of purchase, too. Here's what else you can do to ensure a safe and happy gift card experience this holiday season. #giftcards #giftcardscams #giftcardfraud Follow #giftcardreform https://lnkd.in/gTZmabbB

When it comes to gift card scams, it's important to stay vigilant. Scammers often use gift cards for payment because they are difficult to trace and can be easily monetized. Here are some red flags to watch out for: 1. Demands for payment by gift card 2. Urgency and pressure 3. Unsolicited contact 4. Payment for fees or charges 5. Unusual payment methods 6. Unsolicited remote access to your device 7. Voice cloning or impersonation 8. Overpayment scams Always be cautious and skeptical when it comes to any requests involving gift cards. If something seems suspicious or too good to be true, it's best to double-check with trusted sources or report the situation to the appropriate authorities. Remember to stay safe and protect yourself from gift card scams!

New Post: How to Avoid Gift Card Scams - https://lnkd.in/g8pVE-5e - It’s a given – if money is involved, scammers are involved. And scammers love gift cards. That’s because gift cards are tough to trace, and not subject to the same regulations as credit and debit cards. Yet, gift cards are a great way to reward someone, and give the friend, family member, or employee the means to purchase a truly-wanted gift using the pre-loaded monies on the card. Here’s how to avoid scammers when you buy gift cards. What Is a Gift Card Scam? Basically, a gift card scam occurs when someone loads the card with money, and a scammer finds a way to access that money. If you or someone you know is a victim of a gift card scam, the Federal Trade Commission wants to know about it. The FTC reports that gift card scammers account for 26% of fraud reports the agency investigates. The FTC noted that reports of gift card scams where people have lost money have tripled since 2017. Many times the scam takes place during the holiday season.   READ MORE: Now is the Time for Local Small Business to Consider Offering Gift Cards How Do Gift Card Scams Work? There are two main ways that scammers commit fraud using gift cards. Someone asks you to put money on a gift card as a way to pay fees, services or bills, such as monies owed to a utility company or government agency. Someone finds a way to learn the numbers on your gift card and uses that gift card information to pay for purchases. What Gift Cards Are Used in Scams? Any gift card can be hacked by scammers. No company is exempt, although the “heavy hitters” such as Amazon, eBay, and Google are most frequently targeted. Here’s our list: Most Common Targeted Gift Cards 1. eBay Gift Card – Scammers often sell gift cards on online auction sites. You’ll pay less for those cards, but as the saying goes “You get what you pay for.” 2. Amazon Gift Card 3. Apple Gift Card 4. Google Play Gift Card – The Google play card is a frequent target. 5. Walmart Gift Card 6. Vanilla Gift Card 7. Target Gift Cards 8. iTunes Gift Card – The iTunes card is frequently targeted by scammers who are especially adept at nabbing gift card balances. Why Are Scammers Attracted to Gift Cards? Gift cards have become a favorite tool for scammers due to several reasons. While they offer a convenient way to reward others and make purchases, scammers exploit their characteristics for fraudulent activities. The main factors that make gift cards appealing to scammers include: Difficulty to Trace: Gift card transactions are challenging to track, making it difficult to trace the flow of funds and identify perpetrators. Lack of Regulations: Unlike credit and debit cards, gift cards are not subject to the same regulations, offering scammers more leeway to exploit them without facing immediate legal consequences. Anonymity: Scammers can use gift cards anonymously, as they don’t require personal identification like cre

🚨GIFT CARD SCAMS🚨 Western Australians are being warned about the resurgence of gift card scams, particularly with Apple iTunes cards. More than $115,000 was lost in gift card scams this year. “If you are the victim of a gift card scam it is nearly impossible to get your money back,” said the Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Trish Blake. Be alert: ❗ No business or government department will ever ask for payment in the form of gift cards – always confirm the request in person. ❗ Criminals might also pretend to be your family or a friend. ❗ As a retailer, if someone tries to buy thousands of dollars-worth in one transaction, talk to your manager or ask the customer to talk to Consumer Protection. ✅ Report scams to ScamNet.wa.gov.au Read more:

💳FRAUD FRIDAY - CARD DRAINING💳. Did you know card-draining scams added up to 217 million dollars last year?😠 Scammers love gift cards because they’re money that can be easily moved, with few consumer protections. Here is how it's done: Scammers drain a gift card by obtaining the bar code, CVV number, PIN, or activation code from beneath the slim cardboard packaging. They reseal the card, wait for a consumer to buy it, load it with money, and then spend the balance before the consumer can. 😩It's just that easy! If you've been the victim of a gift card scam, you can try these steps: ✅Contact the gift card company directly and ask for your money back. ✅Report the incident to the gift card issuer with proof of purchase or the card's numbers to verify your claim. ✅You can also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov 🎯For more tips like these, sign up for our newsletter at the smarter service com. The Smarter Service Wellzesta Inc. Mirabella at ASU Westminster Village, Scottsdale Arizona LeadingAge #fraudfriday #frauds #scams #onlinesecurity

𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐬: 𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 https://lnkd.in/gnzvhdCk This story underscores the need for enhanced in-store security measures for gift card displays. Scammers have become so adept at compromising cards that it's often difficult for consumers and employees to notice tampering until the packaging is fully opened after purchase. Then, the real struggle begins since consumers frequently have to seek outside support to get reimbursed for gift cards that don't work. As a professional in the gift card industry, I know how delicate it is to discuss these issues without casting undue negativity on the industry as a whole. However, maintaining consumer trust is paramount, and addressing these vulnerabilities is essential. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩? I focus on robust security measures and transparent customer support options when reviewing gift card programs. While inspecting every card is not feasible, my goal is to identify and spotlight businesses committed to resolving these issues and enhancing consumer trust. By agreeing to meet these standards, your business will be listed in our trusted directory. This listing tells consumers who they can rely on (before escalating concerns to news outlets) and positions your brand as a leader in responsible practices. Certification serves as a beacon for consumers looking for trustworthy and reliable places to purchase gift cards, ultimately supporting your business's reputation and customer confidence. 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲. (𝐃𝐌 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨)

️You could be sitting on forgotten money Today is National Gift Card Day. American spent nearly $30 billion on gift cards this past holiday season according to the National Retail Federation. Restaurant gift cards made up one-third of those sales. But many gift cards, billions of dollars worth, wind up forgotten or unused. In 2023, according to reporting in the New York Post, the consumer finance company Bankrate found that 47% of U.S. adults had at least one unspent gift card or voucher with an average value of $187. That’s a total of $23 billion, unspent money. The #antimoneylaundering and #financialcrime are all too familiar with gift cards as a way for illicit actors to scam people out of their hard earned money. Some of these scams include: Phishing emails ↳Be wary of "balance update" emails asking for personal info. Verify directly with the issuer. Fake gift card websites ↳Only buy from the retailer's official site or trusted gift card exchanges. "Reload" scams ↳Never transfer money to "reactivate" a seemingly inactive card. Contact the issuer first. When a gift card goes unused, what happens to the money varies by state. In at least 19 states, including Delaware, where many big companies are incorporated, retailers must work with state unclaimed property programs to return money from unspent gift cards to consumers. State unclaimed property offices jointly run the website MissingMoney(dot)com, where consumers can search by name for any unclaimed property they’re owed, including cash from gift cards. So take some time today and check your wallets, pocketbooks and night stands. Find those unused billions and spend them. P.S. What was your favorite gift card you got or gave this past holiday season🤔? P.S.S. Have you spent it yet? ✨ ↓Who do you believe needs to hear this message?↓ 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 💾𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 💭𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞💡𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭♻️ ↑Maybe they’ll spend it on you.↑ 🔍William Callahan January 20, 2024

***Don't do this "friend" a favor. It's a really clever scam*** If a friend asks for a favor, you do it, no questions asked. Right? Time to rethink that policy. In this new con, a scammer poses as a friend asking for a simple favor. The email is so convincing that BBB staff almost fell for it! How this scam works You get an email that appears to be from a friend or family member. The message looks harmless and casual—like something a friend might really write. For example, one version reads: “Hi, how are things going with you? Are you busy? I need a quick favor.” The message even ends with “Sent from my iPhone.” Concerned about your friend, you reply and ask for more details. The “friend” quickly responds that they are trying to buy a gift card for their niece’s birthday. However, they are traveling and having trouble purchasing the card online. “Could you get it from any local grocery store around you?” reads the email. “I’ll pay you back as soon as I am back.” The request sounds reasonable. But if you do buy the gift card, your “friend” will ask you to share the card’s PIN and/or send a photo of the back of the card. Unfortunately, by doing this you are essentially handing money to the scammer. It’s nearly impossible to get the money back because gift cards do not have the same protections as credit or debit cards.

On this TBT, beware of this scam. Gift card scams Some scammers impersonate government agencies, financial institutions or businesses claiming that you need to make urgent payments with a gift card, or you’ll face legal action. By creating this false sense of urgency, they pressure you into buying expensive gift cards and sharing the numbers on the back. Helpful tips Businesses and government agencies will never ask you to purchase gift cards for payments. Never give the number on the back of a gift card to anyone you don’t know.

🚨 Beware of Gift Card Scams! 🚨 Standing in line with a gift card? Pause and think: Is it truly a gift, or is a scammer dictating your purchase? Remember, gift cards are for gifting only—anything else is a scam. Scammers are crafty, using calls, texts, emails, or even AI voice cloning to trick you with urgent, fake stories. Don’t fall for it! If you suspect you’ve been scammed: 1. Report immediately to the gift card company. 2. Request a refund—some companies may reimburse you. 3. Inform the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov to help safeguard your community. Gift cards are a delight when used right. Don’t let scammers spoil the joy. Learn more at ftc.gov/giftcards and spread the word to keep your loved ones safe! #GiftCardScams #ConsumerProtection #StayAlert