SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

July 31, 2019.

WORSHIPERS TARGETED BY GIFT CARD SCAM

The Federal Trade Commission is experiencing a new spin on gift card scams. This time, scammers are pretending to be a pastor, rabbi, priest, imam, or bishop. They’re asking worshipers for gift card contributions for a worthy cause. Appeals are often made by email, but some persons are also getting texts and phone calls.

The bogus emails often include the name of the local pastor and a legitimate looking email address. But a closer look should raise some red flags. For example, the email address isn’t the one normally used by the church, and the service provider is different. The message may begin with a simple “Hi,” but doesn’t include a recipient’s name. There also may be spelling errors, including the pastor’s name.

The imposter will ask you to buy a popular gift card — frequently, iTunes, Google Play, or Amazon — and then ask for the gift card number and PIN on the back of the card. Those numbers let the scammer immediately get the money you loaded onto the card. And once that’s done, the scammer and your money are gone, usually without a trace.

If you or someone you know paid a scammer with a gift card, report it as soon as possible. Call the card company and tell them the gift card was used in a scam.

 Here is contact information for some of the gift card companies that scammers use most often.

Report gift card scams:

Amazon – Call 1 (888) 280-4331

Google Play – Call 1 (855) 466-4438

 Apple Support – Call 1 (800) 275-2273, then say “gift card” to be connected to a live representative.

MoneyPak – Call 1 (866) 795-7969

Then, tell the Federal Trade Commission about it at www.ftc.gov/complaint. Your reports may help law enforcement agencies launch investigations that could stop imposters and other fraudsters in their tracks.