Gift Card Scams: What to Watch For and How to Protect Yourself
Gift Card Scams: What to Watch For and How to Protect Yourself If you’ve ever received an urgent phone call demanding payment with a gift card, you’re not imagining things—it’s a hallmark of one of the most persistent consumer frauds today. Gift card scams have grown so common that consumer protection agencies across the country regularly issue warnings. In December 2025, Washington D.C.’s Attorney General Brian Schwalb released an alert specifically about these schemes, reminding residents—and by extension, all consumers—that gift cards are meant for giving, not for paying bills or debts. ...