Why do phone scammers ask for gift cards?

As you might have guessed, the scammers aren’t trying to collect gift cards to send on Mother’s Day. Instead, they’re asking for gift cards because it’s the quickest and easiest way for them to steal money from you.

Why do scammers want ebay gift cards?

Scammers love gift cards because they’re almost like paper money. Those digits on the back of your gift card are all a thief needs to steal your balance in a nearly untraceable way. Never scratch off the protective covering on those numbers until you’re ready to redeem the card.

Why do scammers want eBay gift cards?

Can someone hack my bank account with my phone number?

Your phone number can be used to reset your account if you forget your password. With your phone number, a hacker can start hijacking your accounts one by one by having a password reset sent to your phone. They can trick automated systems — like your bank — into thinking they’re you when you call customer service.

Can someone hack into your phone by calling you?

Can hackers hack your phone by calling you? No, not directly. A hacker can call you, pretending to be someone official, and so gain access to your personal details. Armed with that information, they could begin hacking your accounts.

What happens if you get scammed with a gift card?

However, if the scam happened over the phone, the victim technically still has control over the gift card. If the victim redeems the code before the scammer can sell it, the scammer will have an angry buyer on their hands. As such, it’s more likely that the scammer will redeem the gift code before it’s used, then sell the result.

Why would someone ask for a gift card instead of money?

The reason they’re asking for a gift card is that they’re scamming you, and they don’t want to leave a paper trail. There are no situations where you can pay a fine, fee, or any business transaction through gift cards.

What happens if you forget to use a gift card?

It’s not unusual to misplace gift cards or forget you have them. Using them early will help you get the full value. Treat gift cards like cash. If your card is lost or stolen, report it to the card’s issuer immediately. You might not get back the money left on the card – or you might get some, perhaps for a fee.

What should I do if my gift card is damaged?

Make sure that the codes on the back of the card haven’t been scratched off to show the PIN number. Report any damaged cards to the store selling the cards. Keep the receipt with the gift card. Whether you’re giving or getting, try to keep the original purchase receipt, or the card’s ID number, with the gift card.