
💡 Related: How To Tell if Someone Is Scamming You Online → Always remember: If you have to pay with gift cards, it’s a scam! Websites with notifications about winning a prize, or urgent warnings that your computer has been infected with a virus.You see signs of a phishing email such as poor spelling and grammar or a suspicious sender email address.Anyone who asks you for the card number and PIN on the back of an Amazon gift card.A caller who won’t let you hang up or talk to anyone about what’s going on.Threats of fines, jail time, deportation, or cancellation of government benefits.
Calls or messages that say you need to act immediately, or give other reasons for urgency.In addition to this warning sign, you should also look out for: Scammers send impersonating messages from hacked accounts that ask for gift cards (like the email the Pennsylvania woman got from her friend in the story above) You receive fake emails claiming you’ve won a prize and need to pay a “processing fee” with gift cards. Fraudsters send text messages or emails claiming that you were refunded too much money on a recent purchase, and you need to repay the company using Amazon gift cards. Criminals use several other methods to get you to send them gift cards, including: This is just one example of a common Amazon gift card scam. Once the money on a gift card is spent, it’s gone. Finally, they quickly use the funds on the card before you realize what’s happened.Next, they say you need to pay them in Amazon gift cards, and instruct you to buy them in-store or online - and then share the gift card numbers and PINs on the back.Then, they create a sense of urgency, claiming that you owe money and will be fined - or face jail time - if you don’t comply.First, scammers reach out to you via email, text message, or phone call pretending to be someone whom you trust - such as law enforcement, the IRS, or your utility company.Here’s how one of the more common Amazon gift card scams works: But Amazon’s popularity and huge online catalog make Amazon scams especially appealing to con artists. Scammers target gift cards from any major brand - Target, Apple, Microsoft, Walmart, Google, etc. Gift card scams can range from imposter scams requesting payment in gift cards to fake gift card giveaways that steal your personal information. What Are Amazon Gift Card Scams? How Do They Work? In this guide, we’ll explain how Amazon gift card scams work, the warning signs to watch out for, the latest scams you need to be aware of, and what to do if you’ve been scammed. When it comes to gift card scams, few companies are targeted as much as Amazon.
