Gift card scams are on the rise (again!)

Please be advised that we have received new reports of gift card scams, which are being delivered via SMS text message. Please see the examples below. All identifying information has been removed from the messages

image of mobile phone screen showing the exchange between victim and scammer

image of mobile phone screen showing the exchange between victim and scammer

Be skeptical of all messages asking you to purchase gift cards. Scammers will seek the codes as part of what they hope is a credible scheme, and then steal the value of the gift cards. They may pose as a higher up in your organization, an IRS agent, or a member of a group to which you belong. Authority and a sense of urgency are used to motivate victims to respond quickly, For additional information on the types of gift card scams you may encounter, and information on how you can report such scams, please see the following prior post on the subject, Avoid Gift Card Scams This Holiday Season & Beyond