Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards Officers are asking people to be cautious of scammers posing as family and friends to obtain money through gift cards.
In this scam, criminals send fake emails, texts or WhatsApp messages, pretending to be a family member or friend in need of help to purchase gift cards. They may provide various excuses, such as being away, being too busy or having issues with their debit card.
They will ask people to buy the gift card on their behalf, and then request the serial numbers on the card or ask for a digital gift card to be sent, sometimes to a different email address. Once the serial number is provided, the scammer gains access to the funds on the gift card. These funds are difficult to trace and can be used for money laundering. The scenarios vary but are often very convincing.
Victoria Wilson, Cabinet Member responsible for Trading Standards at Staffordshire County Council, said: “Unfortunately, we are seeing yet another method for criminals to try and scam residents.
“It’s a simple scam that relies on people’s trust. Criminals posing as family members or friends is an old scam, but it can be tricky to detect, so it’s important to be vigilant.
“If you think you’ve been scammed, please call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your bank card and report it to Action Fraud or call the police on 101.”
Officers have provided the following tips to help people stay safe:
- Stop, before responding to a message like this, take a moment to think and make sure it’s genuine.
- Call to speak to your family member or friend to verify it was really them.
- Inform your friend or family member that their email account may have been hacked so they can change their password immediately to secure their account.
People should report online scams on the Citizens Advice website or by calling 0808 223 1133
