A New Scam Is Hitting Montana, And It’s Surprising

Keep your money in your pocket and avoid this new scam hitting Montana.

Scams come in all forms.

There have been scams in Montana dealing with fake warrants, fundraisers, and tax penalties, but scammers have been getting creative over the years.

New Scams Hitting Montana

Some new scams hitting Montana have been over social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. These scams act like administrators or employees of these platforms and offer help so the user doesn't lose their account for a price.

Get our free mobile app

Other scams on social media are thieves posing as friends or family to ask for funds to help them in a rough situation.

There can't be any new scams in Montana, right? Wrong.

Gift Card Draining Scam

We've all bought gift cards. These gift cards are primarily used as presents for friends or family, but a scam using gift cards has started to hit Montana.

Scammers have started stealing gift cards from stores, copying the card codes and PINs. After that, they return the cards to the store.

That seems weird.

When an unsuspecting customer buys the card, the scammer has immediate access to the funds on that card and uses them online.

These gift card scams can go unnoticed for weeks or months because, like most of us, we forget to use gift cards that someone gave us.

When you go to use the gift card, the funds are gone, and you have no idea why.

How To Avoid Gift Card Scams

What's the best way to avoid gift card scams? It's simple and easy.

• Avoid buying gift cards online. If the cards are discounted, don't buy them.
• Inspect gift cards before you buy them. If they seem flimsy, don't buy them.
• Register the funds as soon as you buy the gift card. This move will help you get the funds first.
• Keep a copy of the receipt.

We hope these tips help you in the future when buying gift cards.

Keep your money safe!