What are gift card and voucher scams?

Gift card or voucher scams generally involve deceptive tactics where scammers trick people into purchasing gift cards or vouchers. They then have them share the card details, voucher code, or PIN. Typically, these scammers impersonate authority figures, relatives in distress, or government service providers, coercing victims into believing they owe money and need to buy gift cards to settle the debt. Once scammers obtain the card details, they can swiftly drain the funds, leaving victims out of pocket.

This guide will dive into how gift card and voucher scams may work and potential ways to avoid them.

How do gift card and voucher scams work?

Gift card scams can vary depending on a scammer’s approach. But here’s how they typically work:¹

1. Posing as a government entity, friend or family member, or a business representative, the scammer initiates contact, often with an email, text message, call, voicemail, or social media message.
2. The scammer creates a sense of urgency by fabricating a scenario like an overdue utility payment, tax bill, outstanding government support payment, or family emergency, compelling the victim to take immediate action.
3. The victim is coerced into purchasing gift cards or vouchers to solve the issue. The scammer may even instruct them to purchase the gift card or voucher from a specific store.
4. The scammer instructs the victim to share the numbers and PINs.
5. With the card details, the scammer virtually redeems the funds, leaving the victim out of pocket, even though they still have the physical card — which now may have a zero balance.

Why do scammers want gift cards or vouchers?

Gift card and voucher scams are among some of the most common scams because they provide criminals with an anonymous and untraceable way to steal from others.

Once they receive gift card or voucher details, scammers can quickly convert them into cash or make online purchases. Because gift cards typically don’t store or link to personal information, scammers can easily evade detection.

How to spot and potentially avoid gift card and voucher scams

Here are some potential ways people can spot and protect themselves from gift card scams:

• Double-check caller and sender identities: Federal and state government services, utility providers, and legitimate Australian businesses usually never demand payment in gift cards for income taxes, penalty fines, or additional fees. If someone claims to be a family member or mate in need, verify their identity by directly contacting the family member or someone close to them.
• Be wary of urgent, unsolicited requests: Scammers often create urgency. They rush people into acting quickly. Take time to assess the situation.
• Stay educated about scammer’s new tricks: As scams become more complex, stay informed about common scams to recognise the warning signs.
• Buy gift cards directly from trustworthy stores: Use reputable websites or physical shops when purchasing gift cards. And inspect all gift cards for signs of tampering before purchasing.

What to do if someone has been gift card or voucher scammed

If a person suspects they have been a gift card scam victim, here is what they could do:

• Contact the gift card or voucher issuer immediately. Show them receipts. Give them a photo of the physical gift card or screenshot of a virtual gift card or voucher. And explain how the scammer made contact.
• Report the scam to the National Anti-Scam Centre’s Scamwatch service. This may help law enforcement catch scammers, issue public warnings, and prevent others from becoming victims.
• Save all communication records. Providing law enforcement with all the emails, text messages, and relevant documentation related to the scam can allow them to investigate and take action.
• Stay informed and warn others. Learn about new types of scams, and alert friends, family, and social circles about the scam to prevent them from becoming victims as well.

Learn more about digital gift cards.