假日季临近：密苏里州总检察长警告礼品卡诈骗，冒充官方与亲友索要卡号密码
密苏里州总检察长凯瑟琳·哈纳韦（Catherine Hanaway）近日提醒全州居民：随着假日购物季临近，诈骗者正越来越多地通过欺骗性和高压式的礼品卡骗局盯上消费者。礼品卡诈骗每年在全美造成数以百万美元计的损失，骗子惯用恐惧、紧迫感和冒充身份等手段，诱使受害者送出钱款，而这些钱一旦被兑换，几乎不可能追回。
「密苏里州的家庭正在为节日做准备，骗子们也在做准备，他们指望人们在忙乱中分心或匆忙行事，」哈纳韦说，「本办公室不会容忍诈骗者把黑手伸向辛勤工作的密苏里人，尤其是在这个本应充满慷慨与欢乐的时节。我们随时提供帮助，并将继续尽一切努力保护消费者、关停欺诈勾当。」
据总检察长办公室介绍，礼品卡诈骗通常始于一通意外的电话、短信、电子邮件或社交媒体消息。骗子冒充政府官员、公用事业公司、雇主，甚至冒充受害者的亲友，随后施压要求购买礼品卡——常指定沃尔玛、塔吉特、CVS、Walgreens、Google Play、苹果或亚马逊等品牌——并索要卡号和密码（PIN）。一旦骗子拿到卡密，卡内资金瞬间就会被转走。这类骗局高度依赖紧迫感与恐惧心理，而没有任何正规机构会要求用礼品卡付款。
哈纳韦给出三条识别要点：其一，骗子会编造虚假的紧急情况，声称不立即行动就会发生可怕后果——只要有人要求用礼品卡付款，就是诈骗，应当放慢节奏、不要照做。其二，骗子会明确指定买哪种礼品卡、去哪里买，有人甚至会全程保持通话「陪同」购物——应当立即挂断。其三，骗子会索要卡号和密码，一旦把号码或卡面照片发过去，即使卡片还在自己手里，资金也会被瞬间掏空——绝不能分享这些号码。
如果已经购买礼品卡并把号码给了对方，应立即向发卡公司报告诈骗，并询问是否可能退款；一些零售商在欺诈被及时发现时已开始为受害者提供支持。哈纳韦鼓励任何认为自己成为诈骗目标或已经受害的居民，拨打总检察长消费者保护热线800-392-8222，或在州总检察长办公室官网ago.mo.gov在线提交投诉。
（来源：密苏里州总检察长办公室）
Missouri Attorney General Warns of Gift Card Scams as the Holiday Season Nears: No Legitimate Organization Demands Payment by Gift Card
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is urging Missourians to stay vigilant this holiday season as scammers increasingly target consumers through deceptive and high-pressure gift card schemes. Millions of dollars are lost nationwide each year to gift card fraud, and criminals often use fear, urgency and impersonation tactics to trick victims into sending money that is nearly impossible to recover once redeemed.
'As families across Missouri prepare for the holidays, criminals are preparing too, and they are counting on people being distracted or rushed,' Hanaway said. 'Our Office will not tolerate scammers who prey on hardworking Missourians, especially during a time of year that should be marked by generosity and joy. We are here to help, and we will continue doing everything we can to protect consumers and shut down fraudulent schemes.'
Gift card scams typically begin with an unexpected call, text, email or social media message, according to the Attorney General's Office. Scammers pretend to be government officials, utilities, employers or even loved ones. They then pressure victims to buy gift cards — often from Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, Google Play, Apple or Amazon — and demand the card number and PIN. Once the scammer has the code, the money is gone. These schemes rely heavily on urgency and fear, and no legitimate organization will ever demand payment by gift card.
Hanaway offered three ways to spot the scam. First, scammers create false emergencies, claiming something terrible will happen unless the victim acts immediately — slow down, because if someone demands payment by gift card, it is a scam. Second, scammers tell victims exactly which gift card to buy and where to buy it, and some even stay on the phone while the victim shops — hang up. Third, scammers ask for the gift card number and PIN; once those numbers or a photo of the card are shared, the funds can be drained instantly even if the card never leaves the victim's hand, so the numbers must never be shared.
Anyone who has already purchased a gift card and given someone the numbers should report the scam to the gift card company immediately and ask whether reimbursement is possible, as some retailers have begun offering support to victims when fraud is caught quickly. Hanaway encouraged anyone who believes they have been targeted or victimized to contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222 or file a complaint online at ago.mo.gov.
(Source: Missouri Attorney General's Office)
来源：密苏里州总检察长办公室
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：密苏里州议会大厦，位于杰斐逊市。图片来自 Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 4.0。 / The Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. Image via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
GSM Global · 本篇英文版 English edition of this story
