Caught in a gift card scam? Here's how to get your money back

Gift card companies are adding protections for consumers, who are increasingly being duped into sending funds to online scammers through store credit.In 2022, nearly 65,000 consumers were swindled out of more than $228 million in gift card scams, according to the FTC. See more

CouponFollow Extension

$228
OFF

Caught In A Gift Card Scam? Here's How To Get Your Money Back

2 weeks from now

cbsnews.com

FAQs about Caught in a gift card scam? Here's how to get your money back Coupon?

What if a gift card scam happens?

But now, some gift card companies are flagging fraudulent transactions and freezing stolen gift card money so that scammers can’t get it. And those gift card companies want to give that money back. So, if a gift card scam happens to you, act fast: Report it to the gift card company. Tell them you were scammed. ...

How do I get my money back from a gift card scam?

Request your money back. When in contact with the gift card company, ask for your money to be returned. This is often on an individual basis, but if the money was frozen or not yet accessed by the scammer they might be able to give you your money back. Some gift card companies offer protections that keep you safe from unauthorized transactions. ...

Should you buy a gift card for a scammer?

If you bought a gift card for a scammer, it might not be too late to get your money back. According to the FTC, nearly 40,000 consumers used gift cards to pay scammers in 2021 alone. ...

How do I report a gift card giveaway scam?

Once you’ve filed a police report and contacted the gift card issuer, report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission, even if you didn’t lose money or provide sensitive information. Remember that it is important to act quickly if you believe you have been the target of a ‘free’ gift card giveaway scam. ...

How do I avoid a gift card scam?

Either hang up/hit delete and forget it, or research the organization, and call them yourself instead. Scammers can be very persuasive, but there’s a simple rule to remember to avoid gift card scams: Legitimate businesses and governmental organizations don’t accept payments in gift cards. ...

What are the most common gift card scams?

One of the most common gift card scams combines phishing and social engineering. In this type of fraud, a scammer impersonates one of your family members or coworkers, asks you to purchase gift cards and then requests that you give them the numbers so they can use the gift cards themselves. ...