Gift Card Scams Are Everywhere: What the DC Attorney General’s Warning Means for You In mid-December 2025, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a consumer alert warning residents about a surge in gift card scams. The alert is a timely reminder that this type of fraud remains widespread and can hit anyone who gets an unexpected call, text, or email demanding payment. ...
Gift Card Scams: How to Spot Them and What to Do If You’ve Been Targeted Introduction In mid-December 2025, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a consumer alert warning residents about a surge in gift card scams. The alert underscores a simple but critical fact: no legitimate business, government agency, or utility company will ever demand payment in the form of gift cards. Yet these scams continue to cost Americans hundreds of millions of dollars each year, with older adults frequently among the hardest hit. Understanding how they work—and knowing exactly what to do if you or someone you know is targeted—can prevent financial harm. ...
Gift Card Scams Are on the Rise: What You Need to Know to Avoid Being Tricked Intro Gift cards are a convenient present, but they’ve also become a favorite tool for scammers. On December 15, 2025, Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an alert warning District residents about a surge in gift card scams. While the alert targets local consumers, the tactics and takeaways apply nationwide. If you receive an unexpected call, text, or email demanding payment via a gift card, it’s almost certainly a scam. ...
Gift Card Scams: How to Spot Them and What to Do Right Now Introduction Gift cards make convenient presents, but scammers have turned them into one of the most widely used payment methods for fraud. In December 2025, Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an alert warning Washington D.C. residents about the persistent threat of gift card scams. The official notice reminds consumers that no legitimate government agency, business, or utility company will ever demand payment in the form of gift cards. If you encounter such a request, it’s almost certainly a scam. ...
Gift Card Scams Are Surging: How to Protect Yourself Now If you get a call, text, or email demanding payment by buying a gift card and reading off the numbers, stop. That is almost certainly a scam. No legitimate business, government agency, or even a distressed family member will ever ask you to pay with a gift card—and the Washington, D.C. Attorney General’s office just reminded residents why it’s critical to stay alert. ...
Gift Card Scams Persist: What the D.C. Attorney General’s Recent Warning Means for You Gift cards are convenient presents for birthdays and holidays, but scammers have turned them into a preferred payment method for fraud. In December 2025, District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued an alert reminding residents that gift cards are for gifts, not for paying unexpected bills, taxes, or fees. This warning echoes similar advisories from consumer protection agencies across the country, and for good reason—gift card scams remain one of the most common and costly types of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). ...
Investment Scams on Social Media: What to Know After a State Attorney General’s Warning In early April 2026, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown issued a consumer alert about a surge in investment scams operating on Meta platforms—specifically Facebook and Instagram. The warning, published by the Attorney General’s office, highlights how fraudsters are using fake profiles, sponsored ads, and private messages to pitch bogus investment opportunities to unsuspecting users. ...
How to Spot and Avoid “Pig Butchering” Scams: A Practical Guide If you’ve received an unexpected text from a wrong number or a friend request from a stranger who quickly turns flirtatious, you might be the target of what authorities now call a “pig butchering” scam. The New York State Attorney General recently issued a consumer alert about this growing fraud, and the tactics are worth understanding because the losses can be severe. ...
Attorney General Warns of Investment Scams on Meta Platforms: What to Watch For If you use Facebook or Instagram, chances are you’ve seen ads or messages promoting “can’t-miss” investment opportunities. Cryptocurrency schemes, celebrity-endorsed trading platforms, and early-stage stock tips are common. What’s less obvious is that many of these offers are scams designed to steal your money. ...