Gift Card Scams

Everybody loves gift cards: they’re a quick and easy present for that person who knows what they want better than anyone. But scammers love them too, because gift cards can’t be traced or refunded very easily. Keep these tips in mind when it comes to gift cards this holiday season:

• Never send someone a gift card as payment for an item. Scammers may pose as legitimate sellers and request payment in gift cards. This is their way of getting you to send money you can’t get back for a product they’ll never send you.
• Don’t buy gift cards from unauthorized sellers. Scammers on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace may offer discounted gift cards, but since you can’t know if they’re legitimate until you try to use them, these gift cards will likely be phonies.
• Go straight to the source. Your best bet is to purchase gift cards directly from the places where they’ll be used, or from retailers you’ve trusted in the past. Just be sure to inspect the card before you purchase it to make sure it hasn’t been scratched, damaged, or otherwise tampered with.

Online Marketplace Scams

Facebook Marketplace and sponsored Instagram ads are a dream come true for gift givers, as you can often find unique presents for a great price. But these purchases can quickly become a nightmare when scammers hide behind fake profiles and misleading listings. Before you commit to buying, ask yourself these questions:

• How are they asking me to pay? Never pay using wire transfers, Cash App, or gift cards. PayPal and Venmo are better options, because they offer some measure of buyer protection. But when it comes to Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, your best bet is to pay with cash in a public meeting place.
• Do they look legitimate? On Instagram or similar sites, look at the seller’s profile. If they have very few followers and reviews, or if their page includes grammatical errors and no refund policy, it’s better to stay away. You can also Google the seller to see if anyone online has reported them as scammers.
• Can I buy it somewhere safer? A number of suspicious online sellers rely on “drop shipping.” They buy a cheap product from a different seller, mark up the price, and have the original seller deliver it to you, while pocketing the extra money for themselves — if they ever send it at all. Skip these greedy middlemen by Googling the product or doing a reverse image search to find where it really comes from.

Impersonation & Package Scams

The holiday season is a great time to reconnect with friends and family you haven’t talked to in a while. But scammers are good at pretending they’re someone else, so think twice next time you get a message that seems a little too good to be true.

• Be wary of impersonators. Did you get a text from someone who “just saw this photo of you on a website” or a Facebook message from a cousin who needs a little help? They could be lying about their identity, their profile could have been hacked, or they could just be taking advantage of your generosity. Never click links you don’t trust, and always confirm the person’s identity using an additional method of communication, whether over the phone or face to face.
• Be careful when companies or charities contact you. Texts and emails from popular retailers and charities are easy to fake. If you receive an exciting deal or a supposed update to an order you made, don’t click the link or attachment they sent you. Likewise, donating to charities is still a good thing, but do some research to make sure it’s the real deal. Go to the company or charity’s actual website and log in or call them to see for yourself.
• Look out for package scams. Many scammers will send messages alleging you have a package on the way that requires an additional signature or credit card confirmation. This is an attempt to steal your personal information and should be ignored. If you really are expecting a package, contact the parcel delivery service directly through their website or brick-and-mortar location instead.

While these are some of the most common holiday scams, there are countless other tools fraudsters will use to try and steal your money, info, and identity. To learn more about phishing, skimming, spoofing, and more, visit our Security Center.