This makes it very unlikely that a victim will be able to get any money back. The scammer then uses the gift cards almost immediately – often to purchase third-party gift cards such as iTunes, Steam, or Google Play. With all types of gift card fraud, the scammer ultimately demands payment in the form of high-value gift cards and instructs the victim to read the numbers on the back of the gift cards over the phone. After the scammer “fixes” a non-existent problem, he or she demands payment for the services and refuses to unlock the computer until the victim pays. The scammer claims there is a virus and requests remote access to the victim’s computer. Tech Support Scam – The scammer impersonates a tech support employee claiming to work for the manufacturer of the victim’s computer.Again, victims report that the scheme is believable because the scammer may give the name and badge number of a real IRS agent whose identity can be verified online, may know detailed information about the victim’s tax history, or may send the victim an email that appears to be from an IRS domain. The scammer usually threatens arrest that day if the debt is not paid immediately via gift cards. IRS Scam – The scammer impersonates someone from the IRS attempting the collect taxes owed.Victims report that the scheme was believable because the scammer knew the name of and sounded like the victim’s grandchild. Grandparent Scam – The scammer impersonates a grandchild of the victim who claims to have been arrested and in need of money to pay for bail or a lawyer, paid in the form of retail gift cards.The Federal Trade Commission recently found that 26% of scam victims paid with a gift card between January and September 2018, compared to only 7% in 2015 – a 270% increase.Īlthough there are many types of gift card scams, the most common are: Gift card scams have been increasing rapidly in recent years. We care about our customers and are continuously working to further enhance our gift card program to help guard against these types of crimes,” said Jason Klipa, Director of Public Affairs, Walmart. “Walmart is pleased to support the Attorney General on this important initiative and the protections it offers citizens of Pennsylvania. I urge other retailers to follow their lead as we continue to tackle the ever-changing threats posed by scam artists.” “By working collaboratively with these retailers, we’ve created a way for businesses to take proactive steps to prevent scams. “With gift card scams on the rise, these changes will help provide critical new protections to New Yorkers and consumers across the country,” said New York Attorney General Barbara D. Here, we were able to work constructively with retailers to address the issue and protect consumers from scams.”Īttorney General Shapiro recognized the important contributions of the New York Bureau of Consumer Frauds & Protection, which was involved in conversations with the retailers. “This level of change in corporate behavior usually requires years of investigations and, sometimes, litigation. “I am proud to announce this victory for Pennsylvania consumers and consumers across the nation as we gear up for the biggest retail shopping day of the year,” said Attorney General Shapiro. Walmart, Target, and Best Buy made these changes voluntarily thanks to the joint initiative of Pennsylvania and New York. PITTSBURGH – With the holiday shopping season officially beginning this week, Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced a major victory in his continuing effort to prevent gift card scams targeting consumers.įollowing more than a year of collaboration with the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and the New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood’s Bureau of Consumer Frauds & Protection, three national retailers have agreed to make major changes to their gift card policies, which are intended to prevent gift cards sold in their stores from being used for payment by victims of scams. Policy Changes Resulted from a Collaborative Effort Between the Retailers and the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection Home Improvement Contractor Registration Home Improvement Contractor Registration.Home Improvement Contractor Registration. Voters’ Rights in Effect at the Polling Places on Election Days.Pennsylvania State Coroners’ Education Board.ACRE – Agriculture, Communities and Rural Environment.Community Drug Abuse Prevention Grant Program.Send Drug and Child Predator Anonymous Tips.Vector Smart Object Do Not Call List Do you receive unwanted calls? Check or add your phone numbers to the Pennsylvania Do Not Call Registry.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |