Scam library · Shopping · Kids & teens
Fake gift card balance check website scam
You got a gift card for a birthday or the holidays and want to know how much is left. You search for the store's balance checker, tap one of the first results, and type in the card number and PIN. The page might show a balance, an error, or send you on to the real store's site.
Some of those pages are run by scammers. Security researchers at Bitdefender and AARP have warned that fake balance-check sites copy retailers' logos and can show up near the top of search results, including in paid ads. Once they have the number and PIN, the money on the card can be spent before you notice.
What the message looks like
From: Sponsored search result
Check Gift Card Balance Instantly - All Major Stores
giftcard-balance-check[.]shop
Enter your card number and PIN to see your balance in seconds. Works with 200+ retailers.
How this scam works
Scammers build pages that look like a store's or a gift card brand's balance tool, then buy search ads or game search results so people find them. The page asks for exactly what a real checker asks for: the card number and the PIN or access code.
Instead of looking up your balance, the site saves those details. With the number and PIN, a thief can often use the card online without ever holding it. Some fake sites then redirect you to the retailer's real website, so nothing seems wrong until you try to use the card and find it empty.
Gift card money is hard to recover once spent. The FTC advises contacting the company that issued the card as soon as you can, but refunds aren't guaranteed. That makes prevention the best protection, especially in the weeks after the holidays when many cards are being checked.
Red flags
- A balance checker you found through a sponsored search result or an ad.
- A web address that doesn't match the store or card brand, or adds words like 'check', 'balance' or 'instant'.
- One site claiming to check cards from many unrelated stores.
- A page that redirects you somewhere else right after you enter the PIN.
- Requests for extra information a balance check doesn't need, like a password, bank details or your card's full billing information.
How to tell it’s fake
- Turn the card over. Use the website address or phone number printed on the back of the card or on the receipt or packaging.
- Or type the retailer's web address yourself, or open its official app, and find the gift card section there.
- Check the address bar before entering anything. A padlock or 'https' doesn't prove a site is genuine; scam sites can have them too.
What to do if you clicked, paid or shared info
Don’t panic, and don’t blame yourself. These scams are built by professionals. Act quickly, one step at a time.
If you clicked a link or called back
- If you only visited the page and didn't type the card details, close it. Check the balance on the official site to be sure.
If you paid
- If you entered the number and PIN, contact the card issuer right away using the number on the back of the card. Tell them what happened and ask them to freeze or replace the card. Keep the card and the receipt.
If you shared personal info, a password or a code
- If the fake page also got a password or payment card number, change that password from the real website and call your bank or card issuer.
- Report the fake site at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the BBB Scam Tracker so others are warned.
Where to report and get help (U.S.)
If a message seems legit and you’re still not sure, get a second opinion before you act. Reporting helps stop scammers, even if money can’t be recovered. If you are in danger, call 911.
- Your bank or card issuer
Call the number on the back of your card or on your statement, not one from the message. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and to watch the account. - Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Report the scam and get a step-by-step recovery plan. - FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) · ic3.gov
Report scams that happened online, especially if money was lost. Include phone numbers, websites and payment details. - AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline · aarp.org helpline
Free, for anyone of any age: trained volunteers help you sort out next steps. 877-908-3360, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. - IdentityTheft.gov · IdentityTheft.gov
If you shared your Social Security number or someone opened accounts in your name.
How Gmork Scam Guard would warn you
Scam Guard runs in Chrome and Edge on your computer. When you open a balance-check page there, it compares the address with the real retailer and warns you about look-alike or newly created sites before you type a card number or PIN. On a phone, use the address printed on the card. If a site looks almost right, ask a scam expert for a second opinion.
Scam Guard can miss things, so the checks above still matter. See what it warns about and what it keeps private.
Chrome에 추가
Edge에 추가
Firefox에 추가
Opera에 추가Questions people ask
- Can someone use my gift card with just the number and PIN?
- Often, yes. Many gift cards can be spent online with only those details, so treat the PIN like cash.
- Are search ads safe for checking a balance?
- Not necessarily. Scammers can pay for ads too, and being at the top of a search page doesn't make a site real. Use the address on the card instead.
- Will I get my money back?
- Contact the card issuer quickly. Some companies can help if the balance hasn't been spent yet, but refunds aren't guaranteed.
- How can I help my kids with gift cards?
- Show them where the official balance page is, and ask them to check with you before typing a card code into any website or game.