Gift Card Scams
It all begins with an idea.
Only individuals with dishonest intentions would suggest purchasing a gift card, such as a Google Play or Apple Card, and sharing the numbers located on the back of the card. Despite any claims they might make, it's important to recognize such behavior as fraudulent. Legitimate businesses and government agencies would never request payment through gift cards.
Typically, the bad guys will have you scratch off the back of the card and tell them the security code. Usually these funds are instantly transferred out but there might be a chance to get your money back. Retain both a duplicate of your gift card and the store receipt. These documents can be useful in notifying the gift card company about potential scams and seeking reimbursement for your funds. The FTC website has a listing of contact details for many online retailers as well as tips on avoiding these scams at https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/avoiding-and-reporting-gift-card-scams#what%20to%20do
PS. I did look to see if I could find a Canadian site but the FTC has done a really good job of summarizing the scams and contact information into a single page.
Dan
August 28, 2023