Watch Out for Gift Card Phishing Scams

Cybercriminals use a variety of tricks to steal people's information or money, and they often target health care organizations and the people who work for them. Scammers have recently impersonated Carilion physicians to request gift cards. Here's what to watch out for:

Gift Card Scams

Scammers will send an email or text posing as someone you know—such as your supervisor, a colleague or a Carilion leader. The scammer will ask you purchase one or more gift cards, and they promise to pay you back. Their goal is to trick you into sending them the gift card numbers and PINs. These requests will come with a sense of urgency, telling you that the purchase must be made immediately. Things to know:

If you get a request that seems suspicious, disconnect and call the person who allegedly sent the email using a known number to see if they actually sent it.
Don't give your mobile number out to anyone through email. Scammers can "spoof" email addresses. Instead, call the person and ask if they are really emailing you to ask for that information.
If you can’t reach the person right away, wait until you hear back from them; the chances that it’s a scam are far greater than a legitimate email.
If you received the request at your Carilion email address, report it using the Report Phish button in your email menu bar.