Only scammers will tell you to buy a gift card and give them the numbers from the back of the card. No real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay them. If you gave a gift card to a scammer—no matter how long ago the scam happened—report it to the gift card company.
Businesses and government agencies will never ask you to purchase gift cards for payments. Never give the number on the back of a gift card to anyone you don’t know.
Scammers will send you funds then contact you stating the funds were accidentally sent. They’ll then request you to send the funds back through Zelle® or other payment services. Most times the funds were sent to you from stolen credit cards or hacked accounts of other victims. Once scammers receive the funds back from you, they’ll dispute the payment with their bank resulting in duplicate withdrawals. Don’t send the money back or spend it—instead, contact your bank to report the activity.
Check out ftc.gov.scams for the latest advice on how to avoid scams.
Scammers pose as buyers or sellers who set up fake websites or profiles offering products and services, sometimes at prices that are too good to be true. They may post fake ads and fake reviews. Always check that you are paying someone you know or a verified business, as there is no purchase protection if you buy goods or services with Zelle®. Never pay with cryptocurrency, wire transfer services, payment apps or gift cards.
Question any appealing investment offers that guarantee huge returns. Before sending any money, look up the business at trustworthy resources online to verify if it’s legitimate.
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