GIFT CARD SCAMS
ARE YOU BEING SCAMMED?
WHY ARE YOU BUYING A GIFT CARD?
WHO IS IT FOR?
Please ask yourselves these questions before making a purchase. If you are not buying a gift card to gift to someone you know, you may be a victim of a scam.
Fraudsters often target the vulnerable and the elderly. On occasion a victim can get caught up in a long term scam where they are induced to receive and send money on behalf of the fraudster for an apparently legitimate reason. This can cause considerable stress to the victim who may also be receiving a larger volume of junk mail.
Contact Police Scotland on 101 if you feel you or a relative have been caught up in such a scam.
HOW TO AVOID A GIFT CARD SCAM – TIPS
DO NOT RESPOND TO AN INTERNET LISTING, UNSOLICITED E-MAIL OR PHONE OFFER THAT YOU FEEL IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. IT MOST LIKELY IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
DO NOT SHARE GIFT CARD CLAIM CODES OR SEND MONEY TO ANY PERSON CLAIMING TO BE AN AUTHORISED AGENT SEEKING PAYMENT
DO NOT MAKE A GIFT CARD PAYMENT TO A SELLER WHO CLAIMS THAT THEY WILL GUARANTEE A TRANSACTION
DO NOT USE A GIFT CARD TO PAY FOR ANYTHING OVER THE PHONE OR VIA E-MAIL, INCLUDING BILLS OR SERVICES (E.G TV, UTILITIES, LEGAL SERVICES, TAXES).
DO NOT USE A GIFT CARD IN CONNECTION WITH CLAIMING LOTTERY OR PRIZE WINNINGS, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR A “GUARANTEED” CREDIT CARD OR LOAN. IF SOMEONE REQUIRES PAYMENT IN THE FORM OF GIFT CARDS IN EXCHANGE FOR A LARGE SUM OF MONEY OR A GUARANTEED PAYMENT METHOD, YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT IT’S A SCAM.
IF YOU ARE NOT PURCHASING AN ITEM FROM THE STORE/SERVICE ON THE GIFT CARD – DO NOT MAKE A PAYMENT WITH A GIFT CARD. THERE’S NO OTHER INSTANCE IN WHICH YOU’LL BE ASKED TO MAKE A PAYMENT WITH GIFT CARDS.
DO NOT PROVIDE THE NUMBERS ON THE BACK OF THE GIFT CARD TO ANYONE THAT YOU DON’T KNOW
IMMEDIATELY REPORT POTENTIAL SCAMS TO
TRADING STANDARDS 0808 1646000
OR CITIZENS ADVICE P & K – 0808 1969440
A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF THE MAIN FRAUD TYPES CAN BE ACCESSED ON THE POLICE SCOTLAND WEBSITE AT
WWW.SCOTLAND.POLICE.UK/KEEP-SATE/ADVICE-FOR-VICTIMS-OF-CRIME/FRAUD/MAIN-ELECTRONIC-FRAUD-TYPES