

That check will be fake, and you’ll be out all that money. They tell you to deposit the check, then give them the difference on a gift card. You get a check from someone for way more than you expected.But utility companies don’t work that way. They threaten to cut off your service if you don’t pay immediately. The caller says they’re from your power company, or another utility company.But also - did you even enter that sweepstakes? Remember: no honest business or agency will ever make you pay with a gift card.

Someone says you’ve won a prize, but first, you have to pay fees or other charges with a gift card.If you’re worried, hang up and call the friend or relative to check that everything is all right. The scammer pretends to be a friend or family member in an emergency and asks you to send money right away - but not tell anyone.Never send money or gifts to anyone you haven’t met in person - even if they send you money first. This romance scammer makes up any story to trick you into sending them gift cards. You meet someone special on a dating website, but then they need money and ask you to help them.They say there’s something wrong with your computer and you have to pay them to get it fixed. Someone calls from tech support, maybe saying they’re from Apple or Microsoft.

They say you have to pay taxes or a fine.
Calling apple itunes support how to#
If you know how to spot their tactics, you’ll be able to avoid the scam, and help others spot and avoid it. Only scammers try to convince you to pay with gift cards. You’ll lose your money, and you won’t be able to get it back. The card number and PIN on the back of the card let the scammer get the money you loaded onto the card.

If someone calls and asks that you pay them with gift cards, that’s a scammer calling. They’re more like cash: once you use a gift card, the money on it is gone. They also have fewer protections for buyers compared to some other payment options. Gift cards are popular with scammers because they’re easy for people to find and buy. As soon as someone tells you to pay them with a gift card, that’s a scam. Gift cards are for gifts, not for payments.
