Just 26 days remain before Christmas day and gift cards continue to be a popular present.
However, KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro reports that scammers are always requesting them as payment.
According to data released by the Federal Trade Commission in March, consumers reported losing nearly $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, an increase of more than 30 percent over the previous year.
The second-highest reported loss amount came from imposter scams, with losses of $2.6 billion reported, up from $2.4 billion in 2021. Imposter scams are common in the Four States including a resident in Joplin who lost one hundred dollars and another in Seneca who was dubbed out of $3,000.
The residents don't know each other but have similar stories of being asked to make a payment over the phone using gift cards. Pamela Hernandez, Regional Director of the Better Business Bureau office in Springfield, Missouri says they’ve seen a surge nationwide in gift card scams.
“So for example maybe somebody has been contacted, they’re trying to buy something on Facebook Marketplace. And instead of paying for the goods with a check, or a peer-to-peer app, they ask for a gift card to Apple or Walmart.”
Social media received the highest reported losses in 2022 at 1.2 billion dollars. Losses to business imposters have soared in the past few years. From 196 million dollars in 2020 to 660 million last year.
Copyright 2023 Four States Public Radio. To see more, visit Four States Public Radio.
