Gift card scam
A gift card scam uses deception to obtain a gift card's value, often by persuading someone to buy cards and disclose their redemption numbers or PINs.
In the workplace, the request may appear to come from a manager who needs an urgent errand. The FTC describes criminals spoofing a manager’s address or using a compromised account, asking for gift cards, and promising reimbursement.
The purchase is not the only consequential step. For the scams the FTC describes, the number and PIN allow the recipient to spend the loaded value even while the purchaser still holds the card. Sending a photograph can therefore hand over spending power.
Verify before sharing the codes
A real employee-gift program and an unverified message asking for card details are different situations. Confirm the request through the manager’s known contact route and the organization’s purchasing process. Do not use a replacement number supplied by the requester as the independent check.
Our gift-card article focuses on the moment someone is asked to send the details. The callback contact-source guide explains why the source of the verification number matters.
If the details were already disclosed, contact the gift-card issuer promptly through its official support route, retain the card and receipt, and report the incident. The FTC recommends asking whether the value can be protected or refunded. Recovery is not guaranteed, so avoid promising reimbursement before the issuer has assessed what remains.