Target gift card scams: What they are and how to avoid them

What are Target gift scams?

Target gift card scams trick customers into giving money to a scammer through gift cards. Gift card scams can be broadly divided into two categories: scams that require you to pay using gift cards or scams that trick you into buying gift cards with a zero balance. 

Target gift cards are especially attractive to scammers because Target is considered a respected retailer by many consumers and has over 1,000 locations across the United States. Most consumers are already familiar with the brand and may even live near a brick-and-mortar store.

Even more importantly, gift cards can be hard to track, so scammers have a good chance of avoiding consequences. They can immediately steal all the money on a Target gift card and disappear without leaving a trace before the victim even realizes they have been scammed.

How Target gift card scams work

Target gift card scams work by leveraging social engineering to get you to either pay for something in gift cards or buy gift cards that have already been emptied. While these scam methods are most common around the holiday season, consumers can fall victim to them anytime.

Most Target gift card scams involve similar steps:

1. 1.First, a scammer will reach out to you directly, using contact information they obtained through a data broker, data breach, or even the dark web. The scammer may contact you through a phishing email, phone call, text message, or even an in-person interaction.
2. 2.Then, the scammer will employ social engineering tactics to establish credibility. They will usually claim to be someone you can trust, such as a loved one or a representative of a tech support company, government agency, or sweepstakes.
3. 3.Scammers create a sense of urgency, explaining that you need to take action as soon as possible. For example, they may say that you owe money and you need to pay the debt immediately in Target gift cards because cash, credit cards, and wire transfers are simply too slow. No matter the situation the scammers present, they will stress that you need to act as quickly as possible. This technique is designed to make you panic and bypass your critical thinking skills.
4. 4.If you take the bait, you will often be instructed to buy gift cards from your local Target and then send the scammer the codes.

Once you send a third party the gift card details, you have officially been scammed. The cybercriminals will disappear and use all the money on the gift card before you have a chance to realize what happened.

Target gift card scam examples

It’s important to familiarize yourself with Target gift card scam examples so that you can protect yourself. Keep an eye out for these common types of gift card scams:

Tech support

In the tech support scam, a victim receives a notification that their computer or phone has been infected with a virus. Victims often get a malicious pop-up or a phone call from someone impersonating a tech support company such as Geek Squad. To fix the problem, the scammers ask you to pay them with Target gift cards. They may even take the fraud further by encouraging you to download a program or visit a link that could infect your device with a real virus.

Loved ones in trouble

Scammers occasionally impersonate loved ones, like friends or family members, and claim that they are in trouble. You may receive a text, email, social media message, or phone call from your “loved one” explaining that they need Target gift cards to get out of a sticky situation, such as buying groceries or paying a bill. If you are unsure whether you are interacting with a scammer or your actual loved one, reach out to them on a different platform to confirm their identity.

Government agency impersonation

Scammers sometimes impersonate officials from government agencies like the IRS or local law enforcement and state that you need to pay a fee or fine. Then they demand payment via Target gift cards. The scammer will often stress that failing to pay immediately could result in legal action and even arrest. However, official government and law enforcement agencies will never ask you to pay with gift cards. 

Fake balance checking websites

Some cybercriminals have set up fake balance checking websites that spoof Target branding and use official-sounding domain names. However, they are trying to trick you into divulging a legitimate gift card number. Once you enter the gift card details into the website, the scammers steal the codes and use the remaining balance for themselves. To check your Target gift card balance, you should go to Target.com, log in to your account, and click on “Gift card.” Avoid searching the internet for balance checking websites, because you may encounter a malicious dupe.

Fake deals

Who doesn’t want to score a deal? Unfortunately, sometimes offers are too good to be true. Scammers can use social media ads, phishing emails, or messages to contact victims with the promise of free gift cards or an exclusive deal — if you pay in Target gift cards. These fake deal scams can also lead to identity theft, with the criminals asking you to confirm sensitive information like your Social Security number, bank account details, or home address to receive your “gift.”

Payment with fake gift cards

Target gift card scams aren’t limited to tricking someone into buying gift cards. Sometimes you may be on the receiving end of a fake gift card. Scammers often target sellers on online marketplaces like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace and offer to pay for a listed item in gift cards. However, these gift cards are actually fraudulent, or they have already been used.

In-store tampering

Scammers can also tamper with gift cards in Target stores, stealing the codes before the gift card can even be sold. The criminals will peel back the security tape, record the codes, re-seal the card, and replace it on its display. Then, when the gift card is purchased and activated by a legitimate customer, the scammer can use the balance for themselves. Scammers can also tamper with gift cards in-store by replacing the barcode on the back of a card with a fake one that sends the balances to a separate card, controlled by the scammer, upon activation.

How to check if a gift card has been compromised

When you shop in Target stores, check to see if a gift card has been compromised before you purchase it:

• Carefully evaluate the packaging. Look for signs of peeling or damage, especially around the security tape.
• Compare the gift card to others in the store. If one card seems to have different packaging or security tape, it may have been tampered with.
• Do not buy a card with a barcode on the back. Target recently enhanced its gift card security protocols so that all gift cards are blank when they are on display in the store. Your cashier will attach the security access label to the gift card once you purchase it.
• Look for gift cards that are displayed within a Target team member’s line of vision. This placement makes it difficult for scammers to tamper with the cards without getting caught.
• Ask the cashier to print out your gift card balance at the time of purchase. The number on the receipt should match the number on the card you bought, and you can use the receipt to help you dispute charges if your Target gift card gets hacked.

Target takes steps to protect its customers from gift card scams and in-store tampering. However, it’s still good to check a card thoroughly before you buy it.

How to avoid falling victim to Target gift card scams 

To avoid falling victim to Target gift card scams, incorporate these security best practices:

• Never pay (or accept payment from) a third party in the form of gift cards. You should only buy gift cards as gifts, and they should not be used as substitutes for other forms of payment.
• If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a tech support agent, government representative, or member of law enforcement, hang up and call the organization at its official number. Someone there can confirm whether you were talking to a legitimate representative.
• If someone contacts you claiming to be a loved one in need of cash in the form of gift cards, confirm their identity using another communication channel before you send any money.
• Avoid interacting with strange pop-ups, clicking suspicious links, or downloading attachments from an unknown sender.
• Consider using anti-phishing software to protect yourself from malicious emails and websites.
• Don’t activate your Target gift card until you are ready to use it. Once you activate the card, anyone with the card information can use it. Waiting to activate it can keep scammers from using stolen codes before you can make your purchase.
• Only check your Target gift card balance through the official Target website.
• Protect your Target account from scammers by choosing a strong, unique password and enabling two-factor authentication.
• Carefully check gift cards in stores for signs of tampering before you purchase them.
• If you notice any suspicious activity in Target stores, report it to a team member immediately.

What to do if you've been scammed

If you’ve been scammed, it is important to act quickly to improve your chances of recovering your funds. Follow these simple steps:

1. 1.Call Target’s GiftCard Services phone number (1-800-544-2943) to report the fraud. They may be able to cancel the gift card before the scammer uses it and give you your money back.
2. 2.Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov so that it can open an investigation and protect others.
3. 3.File a report with your local police department.

If you paid a scammer in gift cards or received a fake or used gift card as payment, you may not need to do anything else. However, if you think that a scammer may have access to your personal information, you should take a few additional steps:

1. 1.Contact your bank and credit card company. Their fraud departments will walk you through the necessary steps to secure your accounts.
2. 2.Change the password for any affected accounts, such as your Target.com, online banking, or email accounts.
3. 3.Carefully monitor your statements for any suspicious activity.

Criminals are out there, but if you stay alert, you can protect yourself and others from Target gift card scams!