How to Spot and Stop Gift Card Scams Before You Lose Money

A New Warning on an Old Trick: How to Guard Against Gift Card Scams If someone urgently demands payment via a gift card, it’s almost certainly a scam. That’s the straightforward, critical message from D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who issued an official alert in late 2025 warning residents about the relentless prevalence of gift card scams. Despite being a well-documented fraud tactic, these scams continue to trap thousands of people each year, draining bank accounts with alarming speed. ...

April 11, 2026 · 4 min · BriefArc Desk