InComm joins Georgia officials and payment groups on holiday gift card fraud advice

The Georgia Attorney General's Office joined the Innovative Payments Association, American Transaction Processors Coalition and InComm Payments in November 2024 to issue holiday shopping fraud guidance. The collaboration addressed both consumers and retailers, including the handling of gift card purchases.

The warning signs described included demands for money to receive a prize, pressure to act immediately, threats involving a relative or alleged arrest, and insistence on payment by gift card, prepaid card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency. The partners also highlighted offers to recover money lost to a scam in return for another fee.

For gift card purchases, the guidance recommended examining the packaging for signs of interference. Examples included glue residue, tears, handwritten marks and scratch-off labels that were missing, damaged or misaligned. An apparently empty package was another reason to investigate before purchase.