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Hello everyone,

We are sending out this urgent warning to make you aware of a prevalent scam that is currently targeting individuals, often by impersonating friends, family members, or church congregations.

This begins with an email asking you to verify your email account identity. The email appears to be from your email service provider and looks legitimate. IT IS NOT. This is how they get your email password and impersonate you asking for Gift Cards.

What to look out for:

You might receive a message (via text, social media, or email) from someone who appears to be a friend, family member, or even a colleague. The message will typically claim they are in a difficult situation and urgently need your help to purchase something from Amazon.com.

The scammer will then ask you to:

  1. Purchase Amazon gift cards.
  2. Send them the gift card codes or pictures of the cards.
  3. They will promise to reimburse you immediately for the full amount.

 

Why this is a scam:

  • It's an Imposter: The person messaging you is not your friend or family member. Their account has likely been hacked or impersonated.
  • No Reimbursement: Once you send the gift card codes, the scammers immediately redeem them, and you will never be reimbursed. The money is lost.
  • Gift Cards are Like Cash: Treat gift card codes like physical cash. Once they are given away, they are gone.

What to do if you receive such a request:

  1. DO NOT respond to the message or send any gift cards.
  2. VERIFY DIRECTLY: Call the friend or family member using a known phone number (one you have saved, not the number from the suspicious message). Ask them directly if they sent the request.
  3. BE SUSPICIOUS: Any request for gift cards, especially with promises of immediate reimbursement, is a major red flag. Legitimate friends or businesses will almost never ask for payment in gift cards.
  4. REPORT IT:
    • Report the suspicious message to the platform it came from (e.g., your mobile carrier for texts, the social media platform).
    • If you have given out any information or purchased cards, report it to Amazon's customer service immediately.
    • Consider reporting it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
    •  
  5. SECURE YOUR ACCOUNTS: Encourage your friends and family to enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all their online accounts to prevent their accounts from being compromised.

Please share this warning with your friends, family, and anyone you believe might be vulnerable to such scams. Staying informed is our best defense. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me. I am here to help!

Stay safe online!

 

Sincerely,

Ed Heidinger II

Technology Coordinator