Canonical URL: https://giftcard.news/fraud-security/gift-card-fraud-threat-grows-prompting-calls-for-enhanced-security-measu-0b2c003756ac/ --- description: Virtual Incentives examines account security, redemption controls and request limits for gift card reward distribution programs. title: Virtual Incentives: Gift Card Fraud Controls for Reward Distribution image: https://giftcard.news/images/social/v1/virtual-incentives-gift-card-fraud-controls-reward-distribution-3606c847d6380d2c898ac958a67ced11.jpg --- 1. [Home](https://giftcard.news/) 2. [Fraud & Security](https://giftcard.news/fraud-security/) # Virtual Incentives: Gift Card Fraud Controls for Reward Distribution Virtual Incentives examines account security, redemption controls and request limits for gift card reward distribution programs. By [Oliver Reed](https://giftcard.news/author/oliver-reed/) May 3, 2022 2 min read Share [ ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Ffraud-security%2Fgift-card-fraud-threat-grows-prompting-calls-for-enhanced-security-measu-0b2c003756ac%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dx%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&text=Virtual%20Incentives%3A%20Gift%20Card%20Fraud%20Controls%20for%20Reward%20Distribution "X") [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Ffraud-security%2Fgift-card-fraud-threat-grows-prompting-calls-for-enhanced-security-measu-0b2c003756ac%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dlinkedin%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "LinkedIn") [ ](https://wa.me/?text=Virtual%20Incentives%3A%20Gift%20Card%20Fraud%20Controls%20for%20Reward%20Distribution%20https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Ffraud-security%2Fgift-card-fraud-threat-grows-prompting-calls-for-enhanced-security-measu-0b2c003756ac%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dwhatsapp%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "WhatsApp") ![Source image for Gift Card Fraud Threat Grows, Prompting Calls for Enhanced Security Measures](https://giftcard.news/images/variants/v1/virtual-incentives-gift-card-fraud-controls-reward-distribution-source-image-threat-grows-w1280.webp) Photo: Source: virtualincentives.com Reward distribution programs face automated claims under false identities as well as the wider risk of gift card impersonation scams, [Virtual Incentives](https://giftcard.news/company/virtual-incentives/) explains in a May 3, 2022 article. The provider describes account and redemption controls, including multi-factor authentication, IP blocking and limits on reward requests. Virtual Incentives describes consumer scams in which criminals impersonate a manager and ask an employee to buy gift cards. It separately discusses bots submitting false identities to claim business-funded rewards, a risk directed at the reward distribution system itself. ## Account and reward request controls Virtual Incentives recommends stronger account and redemption controls, including multi-factor authentication, alongside measures that identify unusual requests. Its discussion also distinguishes consumer impersonation scams from automated abuse directed at reward-issuance programmes. The provider describes controls including IP blocking, password rules and limits based on email addresses or programme-defined fields. It says those limits can be applied by time window or reward count, with timestamped reporting when a payment is blocked. The article warns against underestimating the threat of fraud to reward payments issuance programs, noting that criminals are highly motivated and their tactics are becoming increasingly sophisticated. It recommends taking proactive measures to thwart fraudsters and build trust in one's brand. For context, the source cited [Forbes](https://giftcard.news/company/forbes/) reporting that nearly 40,000 consumers lost $148 million in gift card scams during the first nine months of 2021, compared with $125.3 million during 2020\. These figures concern reported consumer scams, distinct from the operational examples of attacks on reward programs. The article cites FTC figures showing a median reported gift card scam loss of $700 in 2018 and $1,000 in 2021\. Those historical figures provide context for the May 2022 discussion of reward-payment security. ## Sources and documents ExpandCollapse * [Be Proactive in Thwarting the Fraudsters Targeting Your Payment Issuance System](https://www.virtualincentives.com/be-proactive-in-thwarting-the-fraudsters-targeting-your-payment-issuance-system/?utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news) — virtualincentives.com ## In this article ### Companies * [Forbes](https://giftcard.news/company/forbes/) * [Virtual Incentives](https://giftcard.news/company/virtual-incentives/) Share [ ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Ffraud-security%2Fgift-card-fraud-threat-grows-prompting-calls-for-enhanced-security-measu-0b2c003756ac%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dx%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&text=Virtual%20Incentives%3A%20Gift%20Card%20Fraud%20Controls%20for%20Reward%20Distribution "X") [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Ffraud-security%2Fgift-card-fraud-threat-grows-prompting-calls-for-enhanced-security-measu-0b2c003756ac%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dlinkedin%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "LinkedIn") [ ](https://wa.me/?text=Virtual%20Incentives%3A%20Gift%20Card%20Fraud%20Controls%20for%20Reward%20Distribution%20https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Ffraud-security%2Fgift-card-fraud-threat-grows-prompting-calls-for-enhanced-security-measu-0b2c003756ac%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dwhatsapp%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "WhatsApp") ![Portrait of Oliver Reed](https://giftcard.news/images/variants/v1/oliver-reed-editorial-portrait-w320.webp) About the author ## [Oliver Reed](https://giftcard.news/author/oliver-reed/) Journalist — Industry Deals & Research Oliver Reed covers industry acquisitions, investment and market research for Gift Card News. From reading to building ## Your next move in gift cards. Tell us what you’re building. We’ll help you explore suitable providers. 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