If you paid a scammer with a gift card, is your money gone? Maybe not – solutions on our website work for local member

You may recall the FTC article we published about gift card scams last month. Well, it came in handy in a BIG way.

Last Thursday, a local member – a very bright woman – became the victim of a social media scam. Here’s what happened to her:

She received a message on a social media platform from a family member she was “friends” with.
This family member/friend engaged the woman in some friendly chit chat conversation online (warming up).
Then, the scammer (continuing to use the profile of a family member) informed the woman about a terrific investment she just took advantage of, offering to refer the woman to her consultant.
Having completed the “referral” process, a consultant telephoned and used online messaging to guide the woman toward making an investment – a sure thing – but the consultant needed funds as soon as possible…suggesting the use of a cash app (which the woman wisely declined), asking for personal account info (also declined), and then asking for gift cards for payment, requesting the cards be scanned online.
The woman did buy the gift cards. She went to several stores to buy them. Alarms were going off but, this was a family member who she had been conversing with first, someone who would not steer her wrong…When she tried to take photos and upload the gift cards, another a family member who had dropped by questioned the process. After a quick phone call to NHFCU and a visit to our website, the woman realized it was a scam. So, she followed the instructions in the article below and was able to get those gift cards cancelled!

It is important to note that this scammer spent HOURS working this person through online messaging and phone calls about the opportunity – more than 24 hours all together. This continued even after the woman stopped communicating (and the scammer became rude and threatening).

Please take this opportunity to familiarize yourself with the tactic’s scammers use. Share this article with your family and friends.

If you paid a scammer with a gift card, is your money gone? Maybe not

By Cristina Miranda, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

Did someone tell you to buy a gift card and give them the numbers? That’s a scam. Your money was gone the moment you gave someone those gift card numbers. But now, some gift card companies might be able to get your money back.

Gift card scams start with calls, texts, emails, or social media messages.
The scammer pretends to be someone they’re not: a company, the government, a family member, or romantic interest. Their message is always urgent. And they want money. They’ll tell you to buy a gift card or maybe multiple gift cards. Once you do, they’ll demand you send a photo of the card or give them the numbers on the back of the card.

But now, some gift card companies are flagging fraudulent transactions and freezing stolen gift card money so that scammers can’t get it. And those gift card companies want to give that money back. … click here to keep reading.