AUGUSTA, Ga. (WFXG) - GIFT CARDS ARE GIFTS, NOT PAYMENTS. YET, THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION REPORTS IT’S THE #1 PAYMENT METHOD CHOICE OF SCAMMERS. iN THIS WEEK'S CYBER NEWS NOW, FOX54 EXPLORES HOW TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THIS FORM OF FRAUD.

IT’S AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR SCAM: "I GOT HELD UP AND CAN’T PICK UP THE GIFT CARDS."

KEVIN WADE, CEO OF INTELLISYSTEMS SAYS THE STORIES MIGHT VARY. BUT, YOU’LL BE ASKED TO BUY GIFT CARDS AND GIVE SOMEONE THE NUMBERS FROM THEM. “THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY IS AWAY AT THE MOMENT AND SOMEONE LIKE A RECEPTIONIST RECEIVES A TEXT OR AN EMAIL THAT SAYS, ""HEY, I’VE GOT TO GIVE A COUPLE OF GIFT CARDS TO SOME CUSTOMERS, WOULD YOU RUN OUT AND BUY A COUPLE OF GIFT CARDS?”" victims DO WHAT they THINK their BOSS IS TELLING them TO DO AND ARE SCAMMED OUT OF a LARGE SUM OF MONEY.

FAKE GIFT CARDS MIGHT ALSO BE DISGUISED AS A GOOD DEAL. BUT, LAST-MINUTE, ONLINE SALES ARE often BOGUS.

WADE SAYS ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU TO PAY WITH A GIFT CARD IS A SCAMMER as NO LEGITIMATE ORGANIZATION WILL ask for that form of payment. GIFT CARDS A FAVORITE TARGET BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD TO TRACE, MAKING IT IDEAL FOR CRIMINALS. THERE’S INFORMATION ON THE BACK THAT YOU SOMETIMES HAVE TO SCRATCH IT OFF TO GET TO.  IF YOU GIVE THAT INFORMATION TO SOMEONE, YOU ARE basically GIVING AWAY THE MONEY WITH NO WAY TO TRACE IT.

To SAFELY BUY: ONLY BUY GIFT CARDS FROM LEGITIMATE RESELLERS AND NEVER SEARCH FOR A BALANCE ONLINE. “IF YOU’RE AT THE STORE YOU’RE SHOPPING AT, YOU CAN BUY GIFT CARDS FROM IN THERE, THE KIOSKS WHERE YOU CAN GO IN A GROCERY STORE AND YOU CAN BUY GIFT CARDS FROM MOST ANYBODY. BUT, A LEGITIMATE STORE, WHERE YOU CAN WALK UP AND BUY THE GIFT CARDS AT YOUR OWN CHOOSING IS THE BEST WAY TO BUY THEM.” WHEN IN DOUBT, GO TO THE ACTUAL WEBSITE OR CALL THE NUMBER.

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