Watch out for requests to purchase gift cards on behalf of your friend, boss or employer. This classic method is frequently used by fraudsters to obtain funds illegally.
You may receive an email, text message or social media message that appears to come from someone you know. They might ask you to urgently purchase several gift cards and send them the card numbers, PINs or photos of the cards.
The scammer may claim they are busy, travelling, in a meeting or dealing with an urgent situation. They may also promise to reimburse you later.
🚩 Common warning signs
Be particularly cautious if you receive:
- An unexpected request to purchase gift cards
- Pressure to act immediately
- A request to keep the transaction confidential
- A slightly unusual email address or phone number
- A request for gift-card numbers, PINs or photos
- A promise that you will be reimbursed
Don’t assume a message is genuine simply because it appears to come from your boss, manager, friend or family member. Scammers can impersonate people you know, create convincing email addresses or compromise genuine accounts.
How to protect yourself
Stop and verify the request before purchasing anything.
Contact the person directly using a phone number or communication method you already know. Don’t use contact details provided in the suspicious message.
For businesses, consider having a simple rule that employees must independently verify unusual payment or purchasing requests before proceeding.
Already purchased the cards?
If you haven’t provided the card numbers or PINs, don’t send them.
If you’ve already provided the details, contact the gift-card provider immediately and explain that you’ve been the victim of a scam. Keep your receipts, gift cards, emails and messages as evidence. In Australia, you can also report the incident to Scamwatch.
Remember
Gift cards are for gifts — not payments.
Taking a few minutes to independently verify an unusual request could save you or your business hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
