Cash-strapped drivers scammed with fake gas gift cards | #socialmedia | #hacking | #aihp

BBB

Even if high gas prices are draining your budget, don’t fall for this
scam. Scammers are tempting drivers with phony gas station gift cards.
It’s really a way to get your credit card details and other personal
information.   

How the scam works

You see a post on social media, get an email, or take a survey that
says you won a $500 gas station gift card. Currently, the scam claims to
be from Shell, but watch out for scammers using different gas station
brands too.

To get the gift card, you only need to pay a small fee. But when
scammers get your credit or debit card information, they will likely
charge your account for amounts you never approved. One consumer told BBB Scam Tracker:
“They said I won a Shell gas card and had to pay $1.95 for shipping. A
day later, they took $89.95 out of my account. I called about the
charge, and they fixed it, but the next day, another $89.95 was taken
out again.”

In addition to your credit card information, the scam may also
request other personal details. Some consumers say they were asked to
fill out a form and provide their name, phone number, physical address,
credit card information, and other details. Sharing these details with
scammers can open you up to identity theft.

How to avoid prize scams

1. Never pay to win. No legitimate company will ask
   you to pay money to receive something you won or to get a free gift. If
   someone asks you to pay even a small fee to receive a prize, you’re
   probably dealing with a scammer.
2. Do your research. Impostor scams
   are common, so if a large company seems to be offering you a free gift,
   do some research first. Visit the company’s official website (by typing
   it into your web browser, not by following a link someone sent you) to
   see if they really are participating in some kind of giveaway.
3. Don’t act on impulse. Scammers are hoping you’ll
   get so excited about their offer that you won’t stop thinking about any
   suspicious details. Use your good judgment and question any offer that
   seems too good to be true.