The BBB Institute has launched a new initiative to help older adults recognize the signs of gift card scams, one of the fastest-growing ways fraudsters try to take advantage of consumers.
Meet Sue, the campaign’s friendly character, who walks you through how these scams typically unfold, what red flags to watch for, and most importantly how to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Here are a few key reminders highlighted in the campaign:
- No legitimate business or government agency will ask you to pay with gift cards.
- Scammers create urgency. If someone pressures, you to act quickly especially to pay a fee or resolve a supposed problem it’s a warning sign.
- Don’t believe everything you see. Scammers are great at mimicking official seals, fonts, and other details. Just because a website or email looks official does not mean that it is. Caller ID is commonly faked.
𝑴𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝑫𝑰𝑪