Gift-Card 'Check Your Balance' Phish
A fake 'check your gift card balance' site captures your card number and PIN, letting scammers spend the balance before you do.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
You are prompted to check a gift-card balance on a website that asks for the card number and PIN. Those two details are all someone needs to drain the card online. Scammers set up lookalike 'balance checker' sites or send links after you post about a gift card. Once they have the number and PIN, they spend it instantly. Check balances only on the retailer's official site.
What it usually looks like
- A 'check your gift card balance' link or site.
- A form asking for the card number and PIN.
- A prompt after you mentioned a gift card online.
- A site that is not the retailer's official page.
Common warning signs
- A balance checker asking for the full number and PIN on a non-official site.
- Unsolicited links to 'verify' a gift card.
- Requests to share card details in a message.
- Odd web addresses.
Example wording scammers use
“Check your gift card balance instantly — enter your card number and PIN: giftcard-balance-check.net”
“Verify your gift card to activate it: share the code and PIN.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- Your gift-card number and PIN.
- To spend the balance before you do.
- To harvest cards at scale.
What to do
- Check balances only on the retailer's official website printed on the card.
- Never enter a gift-card number and PIN on a site from a link.
- Do not share gift-card details in messages.
- Keep receipts to prove ownership.
What to do if you already responded
- Contact the card's issuing retailer immediately to report the card compromised.
- Provide your receipt and card number to request help.
- Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.