Introduction
Electronic gift card scams are extremely common, and several students and staff at Loyola have recently been targeted. These scams are simple but very effective because they rely on urgency and trust. It is important to understand how they work so you can recognize them and avoid becoming a victim.
What This Scam Looks Like
In this scam, someone typically pretends to be your boss, professor, or internship supervisor. They may email, text, or even call you. The message often says they need your help purchasing gift cards and promise they will reimburse you later.
The scammer may claim the gift cards are for a charity, a staff appreciation event, or a work-related function to make the request seem realistic. In some cases, they spoof your supervisor’s email address or phone number, so it looks like the message is coming from someone you know.
Several Loyola students have reported receiving these types of messages recently. The goal is always the same, to get you to quickly buy gift cards and send the codes to the scammer.
What Scammers Are Actually Doing
There is no plan to reimburse you. Once you send the gift card codes, the money is gone. Gift cards are hard to trace and almost impossible to recover.
Scammers use social engineering techniques to make their messages more believable. They often gather information about where you work and who your supervisor is by looking at public profiles such as LinkedIn. This is why it is important to be cautious about what personal details you share online. Avoid listing personal phone numbers on public profiles or resumes when possible.
What To Do If You Are Targeted
If you receive a message like this, do not respond or interact with the sender in any way. Do not click links, do not reply, and do not purchase anything.
If you are contacted by email, forward the message to ITS so it can be reviewed. You should also report fraud to reportfraud.ftc.gov.
If you did purchase gift cards, keep all receipts, packaging, and communication records. This information may help if you choose to file a report.
Conclusion
Think before you act. Scammers rely on urgency and pressure to make you act quickly.
A legitimate boss will never contact you out of the blue and ask you to buy gift cards. No Loyola employee or internship supervisor should ever request gift cards, cryptocurrency, or urgent financial transfers through phone, text, or email.
If a message includes urgency, secrecy, and gift cards, that is a major red flag. Slow down and think critically before taking action. Also be mindful of how much personal and professional information is visible on your public profiles.
Staying aware and informed is the best way to stay safe.