At CardDepot.com we see gift card scams every day, from misdialed support numbers to high pressure tactics that trick people into buying cards. Here is what is really happening, why people fall for it, and how to stay safe during the busiest scam season.
At CardDepot.com, we see and combat scams and fraud almost daily. Thankfully, our technology is able to stop the majority of them and help save consumers from losing it all. Scam artists are getting more and more creative these days. One of the most common scams we see customers fall for is the “misdial support scam.”
It starts when someone tries to call a company like Verizon or Amazon but dials one wrong number. For example, the real support number might be 1-800-000-1234, but you dial 1-800-000-1235. When this happens, a scammer is ready to answer on the other end, pretending to be that company’s support team. They sound professional and quickly gain your trust before asking you to buy gift cards to “verify” your account or process a refund.
Because the consumer is the one initiating the call, their guard is down and it all seems legitimate. They have essentially given authority to the scammers without the scammers having to do much. We see many people fall for this, and it is not just the elderly. We recently had a 22-year-old in San Jose fall for it.
For this particular scam, just remember to double-check the number you dial. Also keep in mind that major service providers will not answer immediately. Instead, there will be an automated voice system that routes you through a menu of options. And lastly, a real company will never have you pay with gift cards for their service.
Generally speaking, consumers fall for scams because of urgency, authority, and confusion. We all know what urgency feels like: “Do this now or we will shut off your utility.” When this happens, take a step back and think. Are you really late on utilities? Has your tax professional told you that you are delinquent on taxes? My recommendation is simple: if someone calls you about a serious matter, tell them you will call them back and hang up. Look up the official support number and call them yourself. You will quickly find out if it is real or not.
Confusion is another major factor, and we see this mainly with seniors. Scammers will start rambling on about tech issues and long reference numbers. It is enough to confuse anyone into doing almost anything, including buying gift cards. When we see these scams happening, we reach out, and you can really hear how disoriented the victims are. They do not understand what is truly happening in the moment. It is heartbreaking to witness. We do our best in those situations to tell them to hang up and call their credit card companies to change their numbers.
This often happens to seniors dealing with some level of dementia. We highly recommend that if you have elderly parents, remind them often to be careful. Tell them it is always best to hang up and call you if someone contacts them asking for payment. Nothing is so urgent that it needs to be handled right away.
The holiday season is when these scams surge the most. Staying aware, double-checking contact information, and recognizing common red flags can help protect consumers from significant losses. CardDepot.com will continue doing its part to keep customers safe.
