Amazon Gift Card Scam: Is Austria Safe?

Amazon gift card scams are a common form of fraud, with scammers reaching out to victims via email, text, or phone call, pretending to be a trusted source. They create a sense of urgency, claiming that the victim owes money and will be fined or face jail time if they do not comply and ask them to pay using gift cards. Scammers specifically target Amazon gift cards due to the company's popularity and huge online catalog. Amazon gift card scams can be devastating, but they have one major weakness: they are among the easiest scams to spot. If anyone, anywhere, for any reason, asks you to pay for something with a gift card, you know it's a scam.

Amazon gift card scams are the fifth most common payment method used by scammers

Amazon gift cards are a popular target for scammers due to their widespread use and the ease of purchasing them. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), gift cards were the fifth most common payment method used by scammers in 2022. Scammers favour gift cards because they are simple to buy and nearly impossible to trace or dispute once the scam is discovered.

Scammers employ a variety of tactics to defraud victims using Amazon gift cards. Here are some common scenarios:

• Imposter scams: Scammers pretend to be someone the victim trusts, such as law enforcement, the IRS, or a utility company. They create a sense of urgency by claiming that the victim owes money and will face fines or jail time if they do not comply. They then instruct the victim to purchase Amazon gift cards and provide the card numbers and PINs.
• Refund scams: Scammers send texts or emails claiming that the victim was refunded too much money on a recent purchase and must repay the company using Amazon gift cards.
• Fake prizes: Victims receive fake emails claiming they have won a prize and must pay a "processing fee" with gift cards.
• Hacked accounts: Scammers send messages from hacked accounts, such as a friend's email, requesting gift cards.
• Overpayment scams: Scammers pretend to overpay the victim and then demand a refund via gift cards.
• Job offer scams: Scammers offer jobs and then request payment for equipment or training fees using gift cards.
• Romance scams: Scammers build online relationships and then ask for money in the form of gift cards.
• Government agency imposter scams: Scammers pose as government agencies and demand payment in gift cards for fines or unpaid taxes.

To protect yourself from Amazon gift card scams, remember that gift cards should only be used for gifts. Never make payments with gift cards to someone you don't know or trust. Verify the identity of anyone asking for gift card details, and do not provide the card number and PIN to anyone.

Scammers use fake caller IDs to impersonate Amazon customer service and ask for gift card details

Scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to target unsuspecting people. One common scam involves impersonating Amazon customer service representatives by using fake caller IDs. This practice is known as "caller ID spoofing", where scammers manipulate the caller ID information to appear as a trusted source, in this case, Amazon.

Here's how the scam typically works:

• Unsolicited Contact: You receive an unexpected phone call from someone claiming to be a member of Amazon Customer Service. They may state that there is an issue with your account, such as it being frozen or compromised, creating a sense of urgency and panic.
• Request for Gift Card Purchase: The scammer will then instruct you to purchase Amazon or other branded gift cards to resolve the issue. They will provide specific instructions on where and how many gift cards to buy.
• Demand for Claim Codes: After purchasing the gift cards, the scammer will ask you to provide the claim codes or activation codes found on the back of the cards. They may claim that these codes are necessary to unlock your account or resolve the issue.
• Request for Sensitive Information: In some cases, they may also ask for additional personal information, such as your Amazon password, full credit card details, or bank account number. They may try to convince you that this information is needed to verify your account or complete the transaction.

It's important to remember that Amazon will never contact you out of the blue to request gift card purchases or sensitive information. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately and report it to Amazon's Customer Protection Review team or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Additionally, never share gift card details or claim codes with anyone you don't know or trust.

By being vigilant and following Amazon's safety guidelines, you can protect yourself from falling victim to these scams.

Fraudsters access gift card claim codes by tampering with packaging and re-sealing

Fraudsters have been known to tamper with the packaging of gift cards in stores to access the claim code before repackaging and resealing the cards. They then wait for a customer to purchase and activate the card before claiming the funds for themselves. This is a common scam that has affected Amazon gift cards, as well as other gift card brands sold by the company.

To avoid falling victim to this scam, Amazon advises customers to carefully inspect the packaging of gift cards bought from physical stores for any signs of tampering before purchase. If the packaging appears to have been opened or tampered with, do not purchase the card.

Other advice from Amazon includes:

• Never using Amazon.com gift cards for payment outside of Amazon or its affiliated properties.
• Never using Amazon.com gift cards for other retailers and brands outside of the intended brand.
• Never providing gift card details, such as the claim code, to someone you do not know or trust.
• Always verifying the identity of anyone asking for gift card details.

Amazon also provides a list of common scams that involve Amazon gift cards or other gift card brands sold by the company. These include:

• Making payments to strangers scams.
• Social Security or identity theft scams.
• Fake online listings scams.
• Job offer scams.
• Unsolicited phone calls or emails claiming to be from Amazon.
• Boss scams.
• Email, text, or fake survey scams.
• Tech scams.
• Blackmail scams.

If you believe you have fallen victim to or been exposed to a scam, Amazon recommends contacting its Customer Protection Review team.

Scammers pose as friends or family members in distress and ask for gift card payments

Scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to trick unsuspecting people into giving them money. One common scam involves impersonating friends or family members in distress and asking for gift card payments. Here are some ways to identify and avoid this type of scam:

• Analyze the message: Pay attention to the language used in the message. Does it sound like something your friend or family member would typically say? Are they creating a false sense of urgency or using vague phrases? If anything feels off, don't give in to their requests.
• Confirm the message with the sender: If you receive a message from a friend or family member asking for help in the form of gift cards, contact them directly through a different communication channel to confirm that they are indeed the ones who sent the message. If they didn't send it, inform them that their account may have been hacked and stop communicating with the imposter.
• Be suspicious of unsolicited requests for money: Scammers often try to create a sense of urgency by claiming to have an emergency and asking for money right away. They may even impersonate the voice of your loved one. It's important to be cautious and verify the identity of the person contacting you before sending any money.
• Never give gift card details to someone you don't know or trust: Once you provide a scammer with the gift card number and PIN, they can use the funds however they want. It's nearly impossible to refund, trace, or dispute these transactions.
• Know how legitimate organizations will contact you: Government agencies and reputable companies will not contact you out of the blue and demand payment in the form of gift cards. They will also never threaten you or tell you to transfer money to protect it.
• Don't fall for romance scams: Scammers often target people on dating sites and apps, quickly building relationships and then asking for gift cards as gifts or to help with emergencies. Be cautious and never send gift cards or cash to someone you've only met online.

Remember, your friends and family members will understand if you take the time to verify their requests before sending any money. By following these tips, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from falling victim to gift card scams.

Fake online listings scam: scammers ask for payment using Amazon gift cards for lower-priced listings

Scammers use a variety of methods to conduct scams, including requesting gift cards from well-known brands. Amazon wants to ensure that its customers are aware of scams that may request payment using Amazon gift cards.

How the scam works:

Scammers will first make contact with the victim by phone, email, or online. They will then create a sense of urgency by offering a great price or mentioning a personal hardship/emergency. They will ask for payment using gift cards and instruct the victim to purchase the gift cards online or at a nearby store. Finally, they will demand that the victim provide the claim code and/or photographs of the physical gift card, and then disappear.

How to avoid the scam:

• Do not pay people or businesses with gift cards. Amazon gift cards can only be used for purchases online at Amazon.com.
• Do not share gift card details with someone you do not know or trust.
• Do not respond to an Internet listing or unsolicited email or phone offer that sounds too good to be true.
• Do not share Amazon Gift Card claim codes, electronic gift certificates, or send money to anyone claiming to be an authorized agent of Amazon or Amazon Pay seeking payment.
• Do not make a payment to a seller who claims that Amazon or Amazon Pay will guarantee a transaction made outside of Amazon.com.
• Do not use an Amazon Gift Card in connection with claiming lottery or prize winnings, or on the promise of receiving a large amount of money.

If you believe you have fallen victim to or been exposed to a scam, contact Amazon's Customer Protection Review team.

Frequently asked questions