The holiday season brings joy and generosity, but it also attracts scammers looking to exploit gift card purchases. Gift card scams are on the rise, targeting both individuals and businesses. These scams are a reminder that it is important to strengthen not only your awareness but also your computer security to protect against these attacks.
How Gift Card Scams Work
Scammers often pose as legitimate contacts, such as a boss, colleague, or trusted vendor, asking you to purchase gift cards and share the codes. They might claim it’s for a last-minute gift, employee rewards, or even a charitable donation. Once the codes are sent, the funds are gone, leaving victims with little recourse.
Tips to Protect Yourself and Your Business
- Verify Requests: If you receive an email or text asking for gift cards, especially from someone in a position of authority, verify the request in person or through a known phone number. Don’t reply directly to the message.
- Beware of Urgency: Scammers often create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to act quickly. Take your time to evaluate the situation.
- Educate Employees: Train your team to recognize phishing attempts and suspicious gift card requests. Encourage a culture where employees feel comfortable double-checking unusual instructions.
- Avoid Public Sharing: Don’t post about gift cards your business is purchasing or distributing, especially on social media, as it can attract scammers.
- Secure Payment Methods: If your business uses gift cards as rewards, consider working directly with trusted vendors or digital platforms with secure delivery methods.
- Inspect Gift Cards: When purchasing gift cards in-store, ensure the packaging hasn’t been tampered with. Scammers sometimes record card numbers and PINs before they’re sold.
- Monitor Financial Transactions: Keep an eye on your accounts for any unauthorized gift card purchases and act swiftly to dispute fraudulent charges.
Including Computer Security in Your Strategy
Including computer security as a part of your overall strategy not only helps protect against gift card scams but also safeguards your business from a wide range of cyber threats. If you’d like more tips on securing your operations, contact us—we’re here to help!
Add This Note for Your Team
For businesses, it’s especially important to ensure your team is aware of these risks. At the end of this blog, we’ve included a ready-to-send message you can share with your employees, urging them to verify all gift card requests through a phone call, in-person visit, or video call. This small step, along with strong computer security practices, can make a big difference in protecting your business from scams.
What to Do If You’re Targeted
If you suspect a scam or fall victim to one, report it immediately to the gift card company, your financial institution, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Early action can sometimes minimize the damage.
By staying vigilant and educating your team, you can protect yourself and your business from falling victim to holiday gift card scams. If you’d like more tips on safeguarding your business during the holiday season, contact us. We’re here to help keep your operations secure and stress-free.
Ready-to-Use Team Alert
Below is a sample message you can share with your team to raise awareness about gift card scams. Feel free to customize it as needed to fit your communication style and specific needs:
Subject: Reminder – Verify All Gift Card Requests
Hi Team,
As we approach the holiday season, please be extra cautious with any gift card-related requests. Scammers often impersonate managers, colleagues, or vendors to trick employees into purchasing and sharing gift card codes.
To protect yourself and the company, remember:
Always verify any gift card request by speaking directly to the requester via a phone call, in-person visit, or video call. Do not rely on email or text replies to confirm.
Be wary of urgent or unusual gift card demands. When in doubt, pause and verify.
If you receive a suspicious request, report it immediately to [insert your IT or security contact].
Thank you for staying vigilant and helping keep our team safe this holiday season!
[Your Name]