Canonical URL: https://giftcard.news/fraud-security/visa-research-finds-free-gift-messages-can-undermine-scam-awareness-b342c437e3ff/ --- description: The 2022 research examined the language criminals use to turn attention and urgency into action. title: Visa Fraudulese research examines free-gift messages and scam awareness image: https://giftcard.news/images/social/v1/visa-fraudulese-research-examines-free-gift-messages-scam-awareness-b0de6ddd6c44fe88f20393bc77d5c615.jpg --- 1. [Home](https://giftcard.news/) 2. [Fraud & Security](https://giftcard.news/fraud-security/) # Visa Fraudulese research examines free-gift messages and scam awareness The 2022 research examined the language criminals use to turn attention and urgency into action. By [Emma Carter](https://giftcard.news/author/emma-carter/) November 16, 2022 1 min read Share [ ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Ffraud-security%2Fvisa-research-finds-free-gift-messages-can-undermine-scam-awareness-b342c437e3ff%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dx%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&text=Visa%20Fraudulese%20research%20examines%20free-gift%20messages%20and%20scam%20awareness "X") [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Ffraud-security%2Fvisa-research-finds-free-gift-messages-can-undermine-scam-awareness-b342c437e3ff%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dlinkedin%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "LinkedIn") [ ](https://wa.me/?text=Visa%20Fraudulese%20research%20examines%20free-gift%20messages%20and%20scam%20awareness%20https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Ffraud-security%2Fvisa-research-finds-free-gift-messages-can-undermine-scam-awareness-b342c437e3ff%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dwhatsapp%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "WhatsApp") ![Visa logo](https://giftcard.news/images/variants/v1/visa-fraudulese-research-examines-free-gift-messages-scam-awareness-logo-w1200.webp) Photo: Source: usa.visa.com [Visa](https://giftcard.news/company/visa/)'s 2022 Fraudulese research found a gap between consumers' confidence in recognizing scams and their responses to deceptive messages. Released on November 16, the report highlighted free-gift promises, supposed wins and urgent requests as recurring tools used by fraudsters. The research with Wakefield covered 6,000 adults in 18 markets. Visa said 73% were likely to miss warning signs in digital communications, even though almost half considered themselves capable of recognizing scams. A related linguistic study by the Aston Institute for Forensic Linguistics examined how fraudulent texts encouraged engagement. Visa reported that invitations to respond to an offer or apparent problem appeared in 87% of the scam messages analyzed. The company presented the findings as a case for education about the wording and tactics of fraud. It also said it had blocked $7.2 billion in attempted fraudulent payments across 122 million transactions during the preceding year. That prevention figure was reported by Visa, separately from the consumer survey. ## Sources and documents ExpandCollapse * [Visa research finds free-gift messages can undermine scam awareness](https://usa.visa.com/about-visa/newsroom/press-releases.releaseId.19256.html?utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news) — usa.visa.com ## In this article ### Companies * [Visa](https://giftcard.news/company/visa/) Share [ ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Ffraud-security%2Fvisa-research-finds-free-gift-messages-can-undermine-scam-awareness-b342c437e3ff%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dx%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&text=Visa%20Fraudulese%20research%20examines%20free-gift%20messages%20and%20scam%20awareness "X") [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Ffraud-security%2Fvisa-research-finds-free-gift-messages-can-undermine-scam-awareness-b342c437e3ff%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dlinkedin%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "LinkedIn") [ ](https://wa.me/?text=Visa%20Fraudulese%20research%20examines%20free-gift%20messages%20and%20scam%20awareness%20https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Ffraud-security%2Fvisa-research-finds-free-gift-messages-can-undermine-scam-awareness-b342c437e3ff%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dwhatsapp%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "WhatsApp") ![Portrait of Emma Carter](https://giftcard.news/images/variants/v1/emma-carter-editorial-portrait-w320.webp) About the author ## [Emma Carter](https://giftcard.news/author/emma-carter/) Journalist — Retail & E-commerce Emma Carter covers retail, e-commerce and the gift card shopping experience 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. [Find a provider ](https://giftcard.news/find-a-provider/) ## Related articles [Fraud & Security](https://giftcard.news/fraud-security/) News ### [HMRC Crypto Tax Warnings Reach 81,172 Ahead of 2027 Platform Reports](https://giftcard.news/fraud-security/hmrc-crypto-tax-warnings-nearly-triple-to-81-172-including-those-involvi-803f20baedd7/) [Maya Bennett](https://giftcard.news/author/maya-bennett/) August 23, 2026 2 min [Fraud & Security](https://giftcard.news/fraud-security/) News ### [Zil Money Guides Nonprofits on Gift Card Fraud and Payment Approval Controls](https://giftcard.news/fraud-security/nonprofit-fraud-awareness-guide-highlights-common-scams-and-prevention-s-aa5b0a4bcfad/) [Daniel Brooks](https://giftcard.news/author/daniel-brooks/) August 22, 2026 1 min [Fraud & Security](https://giftcard.news/fraud-security/) News ### [UPay Reviews USDT Off-Ramps and Crypto Card 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