Beware of Gift Card Scams: Protect Your Money

Beware of emails stating they are from Pastor Bastian (or other leadership) looking for money or gift cards; it is a SCAM. Please delete and ignore if you receive one. If in doubt, speak with someone from the church in person.

It appears that there may be a list of our congregation’s contacts being shared among scammers, which is enabling the scam emails to include your email and your name. Do not assume that the inclusion of your name or other details means the email is authentic.

Gift card scams are unfortunately becoming more common, with fraudsters tricking people into buying gift cards and sharing the codes. Here’s how these scams work and how you can stay safe.

How Gift Card Scams Work

1. Impersonation: Scammers often pose as trusted figures, such as family members, friends, or officials from government agencies, utility companies, or tech support. They may call, email, or message you, creating a sense of urgency or panic.
2. Urgent Requests: The scammer claims that you owe money, need to pay a fee, or that a loved one is in trouble. They may start discussions with “being out of the office”They insist that the quickest way to resolve the issue is by purchasing gift cards.
3. Instructions: Once you buy the gift cards, the scammer asks for the card numbers and PINs. With this information, they can immediately spend the money, leaving you with worthless cards.

Why Scammers Use Gift Cards

1. Anonymity: Gift cards provide a quick, untraceable way for scammers to get money. Unlike bank transfers, gift card transactions are harder to track.
2. Ease of Access: Gift cards are available in many stores and can be purchased quickly, making it easier for scammers to get their hands on your money.
3. Immediate Use: Once the scammer has the gift card information, they can use it almost immediately, making it difficult to recover the stolen funds.

How to Protect Yourself

1. Be Skeptical: If anyone asks for a payment via gift card, it’s likely a scam. Legitimate organizations do not request gift card payments.
2. Verify Requests: If you receive an urgent request for payment, take a moment to verify its authenticity. Contact the organization directly using a known phone number or email.
3. Talk to Someone: If you’re unsure about a request, talk to a trusted friend or family member before taking any action.

By staying informed and cautious, you can protect yourself and your money from gift card scams. Stay safe!