Cyber Threat Thursday, Gift Card Scams

Created by Laurie Fox
Last updated: Jan 26, 2022
1 min read

Originally published in Today at Geneseo

There are many variations to the gift card scam (https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/gift-card-scams) but a common one goes like this: The scammer will email you posing as someone familiar and ask for your cell number to text you about an “urgent matter.” They will tell you a story about needing a gift card for their niece’s birthday party or some similar event. The scammer then asks you to buy Google Play or iTunes gift cards and text the card numbers or a photo of the back of the card. They promise to pay you back but of course that never comes to fruition. 

How to #BeCyberSmart:

  1. Use caution if someone is trying to move your conversation from email to text. 
  2. Never send gift card numbers in email, text, or phone call. 
  3. If a fraud attempt is sent to your Geneseo email or phone, report it to the Help Desk (https://www.geneseo.edu/info_security/phishing). If sent to your personal email or phone, report it to the FTC (https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/).