Missouri Attorney General Warns of Gift Card Scams as the Holiday Season Nears: No Legitimate Organization Demands Payment by Gift Card
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is urging Missourians to stay vigilant this holiday season as scammers increasingly target consumers through deceptive and high-pressure gift card schemes. Millions of dollars are lost nationwide each year to gift card fraud, and criminals often use fear, urgency and impersonation tactics to trick victims into sending money that is nearly impossible to recover once redeemed.
'As families across Missouri prepare for the holidays, criminals are preparing too, and they are counting on people being distracted or rushed,' Hanaway said. 'Our Office will not tolerate scammers who prey on hardworking Missourians, especially during a time of year that should be marked by generosity and joy. We are here to help, and we will continue doing everything we can to protect consumers and shut down fraudulent schemes.'
Gift card scams typically begin with an unexpected call, text, email or social media message, according to the Attorney General's Office. Scammers pretend to be government officials, utilities, employers or even loved ones. They then pressure victims to buy gift cards — often from Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, Google Play, Apple or Amazon — and demand the card number and PIN. Once the scammer has the code, the money is gone. These schemes rely heavily on urgency and fear, and no legitimate organization will ever demand payment by gift card.
Hanaway offered three ways to spot the scam. First, scammers create false emergencies, claiming something terrible will happen unless the victim acts immediately — slow down, because if someone demands payment by gift card, it is a scam. Second, scammers tell victims exactly which gift card to buy and where to buy it, and some even stay on the phone while the victim shops — hang up. Third, scammers ask for the gift card number and PIN; once those numbers or a photo of the card are shared, the funds can be drained instantly even if the card never leaves the victim's hand, so the numbers must never be shared.
Anyone who has already purchased a gift card and given someone the numbers should report the scam to the gift card company immediately and ask whether reimbursement is possible, as some retailers have begun offering support to victims when fraud is caught quickly. Hanaway encouraged anyone who believes they have been targeted or victimized to contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222 or file a complaint online at ago.mo.gov.
(Source: Missouri Attorney General's Office)
Source: Missouri Attorney General's Office
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 密苏里州议会大厦，位于杰斐逊市。图片来自 Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 4.0。 / The Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. Image via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
