9/17: Gift Card Scams
Beware of Gift Card Scams
Gift card scams are increasing, and scammers are becoming more convincing. According to the Federal Trade Commission, 1 in 4 people who lost money to fraud reported giving gift card numbers to scammers.
Scammers may start with an email (often marked with “[EXT]” in the subject line) or a text message. They often impersonate someone in a position of authority—such as your supervisor, professor, or department head—and ask you to purchase gift cards (like Amazon, Apple, or Walmart) to pay a bill, cover a fee, or claim a prize. If they started with email, they try to shift the conversation to text and pressure you to send the gift card numbers and PINs.
What to do:
- Do not reply to or call any phone number in the message.
- Contact the person or company directly using a phone number or email you already know.
- If the request feels suspicious, trust your instincts and do not proceed.
Forward suspicious messages as attachments to abuse@rochester.edu or call the University IT Help Desk at (585) 275-2000 or Medical Center ISD at (585) 275-3200.
Remember: No legitimate organization will ask you to send gift card codes by email or text.