Here at NvYA we want you to be safe, so we wanted to inform you of a new scam on the rise, which is a ‘gift card scam’ or otherwise known as ‘card draining’. Here’s what you need to know about this awful scam.

A gift card scam is a type of fraud in which scammers trick individuals into purchasing gift cards and then providing the scammers with the card information, such as the card number and PIN. 

These scams typically involve impersonation, where the scammer poses as someone trustworthy, like a government official, a tech support representative, a utility company employee, or even a family member in distress.

Here’s how a typical gift card scam works:

Impersonation: The scammer contacts the victim, pretending to be someone the victim knows or trusts. This could be done through a phone call, email, text message, or even social media.

Urgency or Threats: The scammer creates a sense of urgency or fear, claiming that the victim owes money, their computer has a virus, a family member is in trouble, or some other urgent situation. They may threaten legal action, arrest, or other consequences if the victim doesn’t comply.

Payment in Gift Cards: To resolve the supposed issue or emergency, the scammer instructs the victim to purchase gift cards (such as iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, etc.) and provide the card information, including the card number and PIN.

Loss of Money: Once the victim provides the scammers with the gift card information, the scammers can quickly redeem the funds on the cards. Since gift card transactions are often irreversible, victims end up losing the money loaded onto the cards.

It’s important to be cautious and skeptical of unsolicited communications that request payment via gift cards. Legitimate organizations or individuals rarely demand payment in this form. If you receive such a request, it’s advisable to verify the situation directly with the supposed authority or person using known and official contact information, rather than the contact details provided by the potential scammer. Always be wary of unexpected and high-pressure requests for payment.

We are here for all of your tech needs and concerns. Contact us today on (405) 588 – 8000