Study finds gift cards are a tool for scammers Written by Better Business Bureau of NY, LI and the Mid-Hudson Regionand
Since 2015, 332 scams reported to the BBB Serving Metro New York have indicated that the scammer requested payment through gift cards or reloadable cards; and 98 of these scams have been reported to BBB Metro NY since January 2020. Consumers should view a request for payment by gift card as a warning sign. A new BBB study shows that gift cards are increasingly popular as a payment method for scams.
“Transactions that request payment by gift card are almost always scams,” said Claire Rosenzweig, President and CEO of the BBB Serving Metro New York. “Gift cards don’t carry the same protections as credit or debit cards, so gift card payments are funds you can’t get back.”
BBB Reports Postal Change of Address Website Scams Are Surging Written by Better Business Bureau of Metro NY
Moving during a pandemic comes with plenty to worry about. It can help to take care of some details online. But these conditions have helped spur the troubling rise of an online scam aimed at new movers.
Misleading or fraudulent websites resembling official U.S. Postal Service (USPS) change of address pages have proliferated via online advertisements in channels such as Google Ads. Users of these sites report being charged with significant, undisclosed fees for what should be a $1.05 government service. The Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan New York advises careful attention when searching for postal address change assistance online, to be sure consumers are able to find the real USPS website service.