protect yourself from scammers

Gift cards can ONLY be used as payment for the retailer on the front of the card.

 

How scammers may contact you: Scammers demand payment with gift cards for:
Home phone
Email
Text
Cell phone
Letter through US Postal Service
Bail money
IRS payment
Technology support
Taxes for winning a lottery
Help for someone in your religious or community organization


Hang up! Don’t respond!

No real business or government agency will ever ask you to pay them with gift cards.  

 

HOW TO GET HELP OR REPORT A SCAM

If you think someone is trying to scam you, or that you have fallen victim to a scam, you’re not alone! Here’s where you can go for help or to report a scam: 

 

Agency

Phone number

Website

Federal Trade Commission

1-877-FTC-HELP
(1-877-382-4357)

www.reportfraud.ftc.gov

Department of Justice
National Elder Fraud Hotline

1-833-FRAUD-11
(833-372-8311)

https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/stop-elder-fraud/providing-help-restoring-hope

Treasury Inspector General
for Tax Administration (TIGTA)

800-366-4484

www.treasury.gov/tigta

Rhode Island Consumer Protection Agency

401-274-4400
(RI Attorney General Office)

https://riag.ri.gov/consumerprotection

New York Consumer Protection Agency

800-697-1220
Monday - Friday:
8:30 am-4:30 pm 

https://dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection 
 FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center   https://www.ic3.gov/Home/FileComplaint

Contact your local law enforcement

Find your local law enforcement

 Stop Gift Card Scams https://stopgiftcardscams.com/
Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/reportscam
         
Additional information and resources are available at scamspotter.org.