You should keep vigilant regarding phone calls, texts, or emails asking you to buy gift cards to support law enforcement or other local agencies. The Sturgeon Bay Police Department reports that only scammers will tell you to buy a specific gift card and give them the numbers off the back. Scammers may also offer prizes and discounts or go as far as to threaten you. 

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers reported 48,800 cases of gift card or reload card fraud, totaling more than $228 in losses in 2022.

If you purchased a gift card and were scammed, you may be able to recover the money you sent. Please get in touch with the gift card directly and be ready to share proof of purchase or numbers on the back of the card to verify your situation. You should request your money back and may be able to recover your losses if the scammer still needs to access the funds on the card.