them, despite who they say they are.

Scammers may pretend to be a company that sent you a check for way more than you were supposed to receive by accident and ask you to send back the difference on a gift card. However, the check will usually be fake.

Other common scenarios are ones when scammers pretend to be a company who are offering a special deal, such as giving an overwhelmingly good price on a product as long as they paid in gift vouchers.

The scammer may pretend to be employed by Target, for example, and ask for gift voucher pins from Target, but instead of paying for a product, you would just be feeding into the scam.

So, what do you do if you’ve fallen for a gift card scam?

First and foremost, it’s important to report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint. This helps the FTC and other law enforcement agencies track and stop scams.

If you have already given the scammer the gift card information, contact the company that issued the card right away. They might be able to put a hold on the card and refund your money if it hasn’t been spent yet.

If you’ve sent the scammer the gift card PIN, you should also contact the retailer that issued the card, as they may be able to help prevent the scammer from using the card.

It’s also important to report the scam to the BBB’s Scam Tracker to help warn others about the scam.

Remember to be cautious when someone asks you to pay for something using a gift card, and always verify the identity of the person or company you are dealing with.

By being aware of the different tactics scammers use and knowing what to do if you fall victim to a gift card scam, you can help protect yourself and others from falling for these fraudulent schemes. Stay informed and stay safe.