Avoiding Digital Gift Card Scams: What You Need to Know Before Buying
14 April 2025Ever-growing in popularity, digital gift cards are the perfect way to buy presents for those overseas, as last-minute gifts, or for when you’re just not sure what to get them. But, they can also be a way for scammers to exploit online activity. So, it’s important to make sure you're safe and diligent when choosing where to buy them and sharing their information.
The main reasons scammers are attracted to digital gift cards are anonymity and speed. A relatively undetectable method of payment, gift cards are not usually attached to an identity. This means it’s difficult to track the scammer as it’s not easy to trace information, the transaction or recover the cost. Plus, once gift card details have been shared, it’s fast for scammers to convert their codes into cash (often through online platforms or reselling them).
Scammers will often prey on emotions or those short on time to make you give your details. They’ll pretend to be a loved one in need, or a company demanding urgent payments or offering an exciting (but false) bargain deal.
It’s important to buy gift cards only from trusted, recognised brands with a strong reputation, like Apple, Google, Netflix, Spotify, and PlayStation. Reputable platforms like Mobile Top Up UK are a trustworthy option too – its parent company Recharge has been an Apple digital partner since 2016 and is certified by all the brands above.
It’s a good idea to check with family or friends for any recommended retailers. You can also check Trustpilot or similar review sites for customer feedback to be sure the platform is reputable.
It’s important to make sure the website you use is secure – you can do this by checking the web address uses ‘https’ at the beginning of their web address in the browser bar.
Also check for industry-standard certifications like PCI-DSS compliance. Reputable platforms like Mobile Top Up UK are PCI-DSS compliant, offering an extra layer of security for customers.
Some scammers create fake storefronts to mimic a brands’ legitimate website. They can be practically identical to the real thing. Look out for incorrect spellings in the web address and check for the secure connection indicators – a ‘https’ in the web address and the padlock icon in the browser bar.
You can avoid gift card scams by never sharing your voucher codes or card information, unless it’s with people you know and trust personally, and you’ve verified they are who they say they are.
Now you know the steps to take to avoid gift card scams online – be wary of fake websites, calls and emails, and always verify that someone is who they say they are. If you are feeling rushed, or being asked to share information, take a moment to sense check. Most importantly, always use trusted platforms such as Mobile Top Up UK (whose parent company Recharge has a rating of 4.8/5 from 750k reviews on Trustpilot), ensuring fast, secure, and reliable dig ital gift card purchases.
Why Digital Gift Cards Are Targeted by Scammers
The main reasons scammers are attracted to digital gift cards are anonymity and speed. A relatively undetectable method of payment, gift cards are not usually attached to an identity. This means it’s difficult to track the scammer as it’s not easy to trace information, the transaction or recover the cost. Plus, once gift card details have been shared, it’s fast for scammers to convert their codes into cash (often through online platforms or reselling them).
Scammers will often prey on emotions or those short on time to make you give your details. They’ll pretend to be a loved one in need, or a company demanding urgent payments or offering an exciting (but false) bargain deal.
What to Look Out For
- Phishing emails asking you to click on a link or reply with information – their email address will often not match what they are claiming to be, or the email might have multiple typos.
- Impersonations of a loved one, or tech or tax company – loved ones will claim to have an emergency and be in distress; the tech company might say your computer has a virus that needs fixing; the tax impersonator will rush you by demanding ‘overdue payment’.
- Prizes, lotteries and gambling – you may be told you’ve won a prize but need to pay a fee before you can claim your winnings.
- Individual sellers on platforms (like Facebook Marketplace) asking for gift cards as payment – once the gift card information has been sent, the profile will disappear, as will the promised item.
- Charities asking for donations in the form of gift cards – it’s likely they are not charities but rather scammers preying on the goodwill of others.
- Business ventures or rental properties asking for investments or deposits via gift card – once the gift voucher information has been shared, you’ll likely find the investment opportunity or flat to rent actually doesn’t exist.
How to Identify Legitimate Online Gift Card Stores
Use Reputable Retailers
It’s important to buy gift cards only from trusted, recognised brands with a strong reputation, like Apple, Google, Netflix, Spotify, and PlayStation. Reputable platforms like Mobile Top Up UK are a trustworthy option too – its parent company Recharge has been an Apple digital partner since 2016 and is certified by all the brands above.
It’s a good idea to check with family or friends for any recommended retailers. You can also check Trustpilot or similar review sites for customer feedback to be sure the platform is reputable.
Check if Your Connection is Secure
It’s important to make sure the website you use is secure – you can do this by checking the web address uses ‘https’ at the beginning of their web address in the browser bar.
Also check for industry-standard certifications like PCI-DSS compliance. Reputable platforms like Mobile Top Up UK are PCI-DSS compliant, offering an extra layer of security for customers.
Be Savvy to Impersonations
Some scammers create fake storefronts to mimic a brands’ legitimate website. They can be practically identical to the real thing. Look out for incorrect spellings in the web address and check for the secure connection indicators – a ‘https’ in the web address and the padlock icon in the browser bar.
Never Share Your information
You can avoid gift card scams by never sharing your voucher codes or card information, unless it’s with people you know and trust personally, and you’ve verified they are who they say they are.
Where to Securely Buy a Digital Gift Card
Now you know the steps to take to avoid gift card scams online – be wary of fake websites, calls and emails, and always verify that someone is who they say they are. If you are feeling rushed, or being asked to share information, take a moment to sense check. Most importantly, always use trusted platforms such as Mobile Top Up UK (whose parent company Recharge has a rating of 4.8/5 from 750k reviews on Trustpilot), ensuring fast, secure, and reliable dig ital gift card purchases.