Just before Diwali, things took a sudden turn for a Bengaluru-based techie, Rakesh Kumar (name changed), when a “routine request” from his boss led him into a costly ‘Apple Gift Voucher’ scam, resulting in a loss of Rs 4.35 lakh.
It all began with what appeared to be an urgent message from his boss, supposedly contacting him from the UK, instructing him to purchase Apple gift vouchers as part of a Diwali gesture for key clients. As a newly hired employee eager to make a positive impression, Kumar quickly complied.
“I’m tied up in a conference call, but I need you to handle something quickly. We need to send some gift cards to our clients in India; can you get Apple App Store cards via Paytm?” read the WhatsApp message he received on October 13.
Using Paytm, Kumar immediately bought the vouchers, totaling Rs 4.35 lakh, and sent the codes as requested.
The truth emerged when he casually mentioned the “gifting task” to the HR department during a check-in. Only then did he realize the request had not come from his actual boss.
Shocked, he reported the fraud and filed a complaint the next day at the Bellandur Cyber Crime branch, where authorities are now investigating and advising others to be cautious of similar scams.
The victim faced further difficulties because Apple’s customer support operates only from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, limiting his ability to immediately report the issue or block the vouchers. “By the time support opened, it was too late to recover any funds,” he shared.
Gift Card Scams: An Increasing Threat
Gift card scams have become a popular tactic among fraudsters because they’re easy to buy, simple to share, hard to trace, and almost impossible to reclaim once used. Scammers use methods such as phishing, impersonation, and various other techniques to convince victims to buy and share gift card codes. The most common targets are gift cards from Google Pay, Amazon Pay, Paytm, and PhonePe.
Though gift cards are a legitimate payment method, they’re treated like cash, making them a prime target for fraud. According to a senior Cyber Crime official, awareness is crucial in combating these scams. While banks have improved their systems to detect suspicious peer-to-peer payments, it’s challenging to intervene if someone willingly shares gift card codes.
“Once the scammer has the gift card numbers and PINs, they can instantly spend the balance, making it difficult to recover,” the official explained.
For victims, it’s nearly impossible to reclaim or trace a spent gift card, as scammers can move the funds to untraceable currencies like Bitcoin. If someone has a gift card’s code and PIN, they essentially control the balance, as no name is attached to it.
Beware of Warning Signs
Gift card scams often occur over the phone, with scammers impersonating tech support, well-known organizations, or government officials. They may pressure victims with fake threats, like fines or jail, to make them purchase gift cards. Another common tactic involves impersonating a bank’s fraud department, convincing victims that their accounts are at risk unless they buy gift cards to “secure” their funds.
Not all scams are digital, either. Scammers sometimes copy gift card numbers from store displays, alter the packaging, or replace barcodes to divert funds. Romance scams are another major issue in India, where fraudsters create fake profiles on dating apps to build connections, only to ask for gift cards later.
In other scams, fraudsters hack social media or email accounts and ask friends for gift card “assistance” under the pretense of helping someone mutual. Victims may also be tricked with fake prizes, where they’re told they’ve won but must pay taxes or fees via gift cards.
The festive season is a prime time for these scams. Fraudsters often offer fake job opportunities, send counterfeit checks, and instruct victims to buy gift cards for their “employer.” When the check bounces, the victim is left bearing the loss.