By: Colleen Tressler, Special Contributor
The bogus emails often include the name of the local pastor and a legitimate-looking email address. But a closer look should raise some red flags. For example, the email address isn’t the one normally used by the church, and the service provider is different, too. The message may begin with a simple “Hi,” but doesn’t include a recipients’ name. There also may be spelling errors, including the pastor’s name.
The imposter asks you to buy a popular gift card — frequently, iTunes, Google Play, or Amazon — and then asks for the gift card number and PIN on the back of the card. Those numbers let the scammer immediately get the money you loaded onto the card. And once that’s done, the scammer and your money are gone, usually without a trace.
If you or someone you know paid a scammer with a gift card, report it as soon as possible. Call the card company and tell them the gift card was used in a scam. Here is contact information for some of the gift card companies that scammers use most often. Then, tell the FTC about it at ftc.gov/complaint. Your reports may help law enforcement agencies launch investigations that could stop imposters and other fraudsters in their tracks.
Report gift card scams
Amazon
- Call 1 (888) 280-4331
- Learn about Amazon gift card scams here.
Google Play
- Call 1 (855) 466-4438
- Report gift card scams online here.
- Learn about Google Play gift card scams here.
iTunes
- Call Apple Support at 1 (800) 275-2273, then say “gift card” to be connected to a live representative.
- Learn about iTunes gift card scams and how to report them here.
Steam
- If you have a Steam account, you can report gift card scams online here.
- Learn about Steam gift card scams here.
MoneyPak
- Call 1 (866) 795-7969
- Report a MoneyPak card scam online here.
