![]() ![]() Look for strange language, phrasing, or grammar.Make sure you speak to the person directly, either over the phone or in person, before moving forward. As soon as someone asks for a gift card – even a supposed friend or family member – consider it a red flag. Check in with contacts via a different method.How to spot and avoid this Apple gift card scam: Fraudsters reach out to you and claim to be in trouble or ask you to purchase Apple gift cards for them (for which they promise to pay you back later). One of the latest - and most nefarious - Apple gift card scams involves hackers using compromised email or social media accounts to impersonate their victims’ friends, family, and contacts. Hacked or spoofed friends and family members asking for gift cards Here are some of the latest Apple gift card scams - and how you can protect yourself against them. Gift card scammers are always adapting their strategies to trick you into paying them. The 7 Latest Apple Gift Card Scams (and How To Avoid Them) The moment someone asks for a gift card payment, hang up or delete the email. Legitimate companies never demand payment via gift cards. The bottom line: If you’re told to pay with Apple gift cards (or Walmart, eBay, Microsoft, or any other type of gift card), it’s a scam. By the time you realize you’ve been the victim of a gift card scam, the fraudster is gone and you’re out all of the money. The funds loaded on the gift card are drained before you have a chance to contact Apple or law enforcement. Once you share the gift card numbers and PINs, the scammer empties the balance.In order to pay, you’re asked to share the code on the back of the card along with the PIN (if any) that you set up during activation. The fraudster requests that you purchase a gift card for the Apple Store, App Store, or iTunes Store either online or from the nearest retailer. To get out of trouble, you’re told to buy Apple Store, Apple Music, or iTunes gift cards.They may say a friend or family member is in trouble, claim you haven’t paid your utility bills, or threaten you with financial or legal consequences if you don’t comply. Scammers use scare tactics to instill panic so that you act quickly without thinking. Next, they create an urgent or stressful situation.Scammers impersonate companies or organizations you know – such as Amazon or the IRS – in order to build your trust. Many gift card scams happen over the phone, via text messages, or in emails. First, scammers contact you pretending to represent a business or agency that you trust.Yet, while gift card scams come in numerous forms, they all typically follow a similar pattern: Nearly one in three Americans has been targeted by a gift card scam, with many victims losing hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Scammers pose as bank employees, customer service representatives, and even government agents from the IRS or FBI, and demand payment for fees, fines, taxes, or to “protect” your bank account. What Is the Apple Gift Card Scam? How Does It Work?Īpple gift card scams involve a range of different schemes - from phishing emails to imposter scams - in which fraudsters trick victims into sending them Apple gift cards (or their associated numbers and PINs). In this guide, we’ll explain what Apple gift card scams are, the latest scams to watch out for, and what to do if you’ve fallen victim. The simple truth is: Legitimate companies never demand payment in the form of Apple gift cards, yet scammers are finding more sophisticated ways to trick victims into handing them over. More and more scammers are asking for Apple gift cards - with victims paying the price.Īccording to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) : Americans lost nearly $110 million to gift card scams in the first half of 2023 alone. Gift card scams have skyrocketed in recent years due to the fact that gift cards are easy to acquire, come from trusted brands, and are nearly impossible to trace, refund, or recover. ![]() Is Someone Asking You for Apple Gift Cards? It Could Be a Scam ![]()
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