Holiday gift cards are being exploited by scammers. Find out how a woman from California lost $24,000 and what you can do this season to stay safe.#News #California #Scams #SanDiegoCountyCA
CA’s San Diego CountyThe prevalence of gift card fraud is rising, and these scams can cost you hundreds of dollars. Gift cards are becoming more and more popular as a quick and simple gift option as the holidays draw near. Regrettably, con artists are also capitalizing on this trend by pursuing gullible people for substantial quantities of money.
Jan Hoops, a Vista, California woman who was recently sucked into one of these scams, experienced this. Hoops reportedly lost over $24,000 in a scam that started with a call from a person posing as a hacker. The con artist persuaded her to purchase gift cards in order to fix the problem after claiming to have stolen money from her bank accounts.
How the Scam Works
Scams involving gift cards frequently begin with a phone call or online message from a person claiming to be a reliable source. The con artist may pose as a member of the scammer’s family, a colleague, or even a higher authority, such as a bank representative or law enforcement officer. Through a variety of deceptions and emotional manipulation, they want to win the victim’s trust.
In the case of Hoops, the con artist claimed to have stolen her money after breaking into her CD and bank accounts. She complied with their orders and took money out of her bank accounts out of fear for her financial stability. The con artist then persuaded her to purchase gift cards from a nearby retailer. They assured her that this was the only way to make things better and told her to buy $1,000 gift cards one after the other.
With the promise of a reimbursement that never materialized, the con artist had her read the card numbers over the phone once she had the gift cards. Hoops believed the call was authentic and proceeded to follow the scammer’s directions in spite of the bank staff’s attempts to stop it. She had no idea that she was being duped.
Why Scammers Choose Gift Cards
Because gift cards are hard to track down and lack the same security features as credit cards or bank accounts, scammers choose them. Gift card scams provide no simple means of tracking down or recovering payments, in contrast to credit card theft, where transactions are frequently reversible.
It is significantly more difficult for police to track down the stolen funds once the fraudster gets the card information because they can use or sell them practically immediately. Because of this, gift cards are a desirable target for thieves, particularly during peak periods like the holidays when many people purchase them in bulk.
How to Avoid Gift Card Scams
Given the ongoing increase in gift card frauds, it’s critical to recognize the warning indications and understand self-defense techniques. Here are some important pointers to remember:
Hang up at away if you get a call requesting you to take out cash or purchase gift cards from someone posing as your bank or another authority figure. This is something that true institutions will never request.
Get in touch with your bank immediately if you think you’re being scammed. They may be able to put a stop to any further transactions or help you recover any lost funds.
When purchasing gift cards, stick to well-known stores. If the person asking you to buy the cards isn t in the store with you, be cautious.
If you ve already fallen victim to a gift card scam, don t wait to act. Contact your bank s fraud department, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), local authorities, and the retailer where you purchased the cards.
Stay Vigilant This Holiday Season
As we head into the holiday season, it s essential to stay vigilant and informed about potential scams. While gift cards can be a convenient gift option, they are also a tool commonly used by scammers to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals. By following these simple steps, you can protect yourself and avoid falling victim to these costly cons.
Stay aware, and share this information with others to help spread the word about these dangerous scams.
RELATED TOPICS:Scams|Christmas|California
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