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Someone might be trying to scam you if they ask you to buy a Google Play gift card and share the code so that you can pay for something outside Google Play. A scammer calls and pretends...
- Jory Mackay
- 3 min
- Fake Facebook prizes and giveaways. In these scams, fraudsters create Facebook pages for well-known companies, individuals, or even lotteries — and offer “free” money or prizes in exchange for personal information or upfront payments to cover “fees.”
- Work-from-home and other fake job offers. Work-from-home jobs are highly sought after, with over half of the U.S. workforce wanting to work remotely [*].
- Fraudulent charities and GoFundMe campaigns. Charity scams on Facebook take several forms — from knock-off websites that look like well-known charities to GoFundMe campaigns requesting help for fake medical costs.
- “Is this you in this video?” link scams. This is a common Facebook Messenger scam designed to play on your curiosity. You receive a message — usually from someone on your friends list — about a photo or video that you’re supposedly in.
People also ask
What is a Google Play gift card scam?
How do scammers get you to send Google Play cards?
How do I report a Google Play gift card scam?
How do I protect myself against Google Play gift card scams?
- What Is A Google Play Gift Card Scam?
- How Do Google Play Card Scams Work?
- Other Related Google Scams
- Why Would A Scammer Want Google Play Cards?
- Here’s How to Spot Gift Card Scams
- How Do You Prevent Google Play Card Scams?
- How to Report Google Play Gift Card Scams
- On-The-Spot Payments Always Indicate Scams
Nearly one in three U.S. adults have been the targets of a gift card scam. Chicago residents Gail Roberts and her husband never thought they’d be a part of this statistic, too [*]. Hackers had hijacked her husband’s computer and blocked all accessto it. The hackers would only relinquish control once they received four $400 Google Play gift cards. S...
Google Play gift cards allow cardholders to buy content in the Google Play store. However, there are also ways to convert Google Play balances into cash. Scammers collect victims’ Google Play gift card numbers and cash out the accounts before disappearing with their spoils.
It’s common to use Google Play gift cards as part of larger scams that can culminate in identity theft. In these cases, the gift card is a convenient substitute for cash. Sometimes Google products and services are the lifeblood of these scams. 1. Tax payment scams induce people to pay overdue taxesimmediately by using their Google Play card balance...
Scammers do not generally buy thousands of dollars worth of apps in the Google Play store. Rather, most find ways to turn Google Play card balances into cash. Google Play gift cards are uniquely valuable from this point of view.
There are many different types of gift card scams. However, they all share some common features. If you’re ever asked to pay with gift cards, keep in mind the following:. 1. Legitimate payment requests come with deadlines If you’re late on payments, most organizations clearly communicate a deadline before which you must pay. Scam artists create a ...
Preventing Google Play card scams is a two-pronged effort. On one side, Google is taking steps to secure its cards against unauthorized use. On the other side, cardholders can take steps to recognize and report potential scams.
Google has a dedicated contact form that you can use to report gift card scams. Notice that the form asks for the card’s serial number but notthe PIN redemption code. Google only asks for redemption codes when users buy products in the Play store. If you have a Google account, you can report the scam through your accountas well. For other gift card...
Gift card scams and scammers are unrelenting — they continue to invent elaborate stories to convince victims to part with their gift cards. A comprehensive study by BBB reports that the losses due to gift card scams nearly tripled between 2017 and 2020 [*]. These scams always rely on a time-sensitive need to send money to someone. The perpetrators ...
- Fake prizes and giveaways. Social media scams often involve something “free” — like a prize, giveaway, or gift card. In one common scam, fraudsters create a fake Facebook page for a familiar company, state lottery, or sweepstakes, and either post offers for free prizes or send victims direct Facebook messages (DMs) claiming they’ve won.
- Charity scams and fraudulent GoFundMe campaigns. While many people have honest intentions to help victims of natural disasters, criminals see it as an opportunity for financial gain.
- “I can’t believe he’s gone” posts. One of the latest Facebook scams starts with a post that reads, “I can’t believe he’s gone” or “I’ll miss him so much.”
- Scammy Marketplace buyers requesting Google Voice codes. Almost one in five users of Facebook Marketplace got scammed in 2023 — both buyers and sellers [*].
Aug 22, 2023 · Google Play Gift Card Scams: Recognizing And Avoiding Fraud. 8 months ago by MarketSplash Team • 12 min read. Learn how these scams work, their impact, legal responses, and how to prevent them. Plus, find resources and support for victims. Stay informed and protect yourself today!
Report the gift card scam to Google. Avoid scams in the future. Scammers can use different ways to trick people into providing Google Play gift cards. In most situations, the...
Mar 22, 2023 · Google Play gift card scams provide criminals a way to quickly and easily steal your money without the threat of legal action or consequence. Irreversible, anonymous, and untraceable, once you have given scammers access to your Google Play gift card funds, they are no longer yours.
