Trading Standards - Gift Card Scams

10th October 2024

Several people have recently received emails or social media messages from a friend or relative whose account has been hacked, asking them to purchase gift cards.

The message often says that the sender needs the gift card urgently but cannot buy it themselves, usually because they or a family member is ill.

One man received an email that appeared to be from a friend he hadn't been in touch with for a while. The message asked him to buy a Google Play voucher for the sender's niece, who had recently gone through an operation. The sender said they were unable to buy the voucher themselves as they were on holiday.

The sender asked for £200 worth of vouchers, saying that they would pay the money back when they returned from their trip.

The man phoned the friend who had supposedly sent it and discovered that they had no knowledge of the message.

How to Avoid
Be wary of emails or social media messages asking for money or gift cards, even if they seem to have been sent by someone you know. Always verify that the request is genuine by calling the person who has supposedly sent it on a trusted number.

You should never reveal the codes on vouchers or gift cards you have purchased, unless you are entering them on official websites as full or part payment for goods or services.

Find out more
Get Safe Online: www.getsafeonline.org/voucher-gift-card-scams