THE ELEVENTH SCAM OF THE SEASON
PROTECT YOUR DIGITAL LIFE™
Gift cards and vouchers are the go-to gift in the holidays and scammers exploit this by pretending to be retailers, or specifically ask you to pay with gift cards.
Warning signs
- The retailer states you must use gift cards or vouchers to pay for goods instead of standard payment
- You receive a “gift card prize” but you must pay a fee first
- You purchase a gift card from a third-party outlet at discount and later find it has no balance
- A retailer or individual says “send the gift card code to me now for verification”
How to stay safe
- Buy gift cards only from official retailers or trusted sources
- Treat gift cards like cash, once you share the code, you’ve essentially given away its value
- If someone asks you to pay via gift cards, question it
- Keep gift card receipts and verify the balance immediately after purchase or receipt