Gift card scams are becoming more prevalent and are an issue for retailers and their customers. The following is a guide on how to spot gift card scams and report them.The number one rule is that no legitimate business or government agency (IRS, FBI, police, etc.) will ask you to pay specifically with gift cards. Lowe’s Gift Cards can only be used at Lowe’s stores or Lowes.com, so you should never be asked to pay a bill or fine with gift cards.Never provide any gift card numbers over the phone or in an email through unexpected phone calls or unsolicited emails.Fraudsters can contact victims via phone, email, text or social media posts.Common Gift Card ScamsUnpaid Tax or Debt: Fraudsters will pose as a government or financial agency threatening the victim with claims of owed money. The victim is instructed to purchase gift cards and provide the gift card numbers and PINs to pay the debt. Often the victim is threatened with arrest or losing their home.Family Emergency Scam: Fraudsters will convince the victim that a family member is in jail or hurt; sometimes the fraudster even pretends to be the loved one and asks directly for money. The fraudster instructs the victim to purchase gift cards and provide the gift card numbers to help the family member in trouble. Usually this fraud specifically targets the elderly.How to Protect Yourself Against Gift Card ScamsLegitimate businesses or government agencies will never use gift cards as payment.Caller ID can be manipulated to appear as a legitimate company or agency.Do not respond to advertisements for free gift cards. They are usually scams.If you receive a call from a stranger indicating that a loved one needs help and they ask you to provide gift card numbers, hang up and contact your loved one directly.Do not purchase any gift cards that have a PIN visible or appear altered. When in doubt, ask an associate.Do not sell or check your gift card balance outside of Lowes.com.How to Report a ScamIf you have been victimized by or suspect a gift card scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission.Report IRS impersonation scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration or call 1-800-366-4484.If you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040.Additional ResourcesInternal Revenue Service (IRS)https://www.irs.gov/uac/tax-scams-consumer-alertsFederal Trade Commission (FTC) 10 Things You Can Do to Avoid Fraud https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0060-10-things-you-can-do-avoid-fraudThe National Council on Aging Top 10 Financial Scams Targeting Seniors https://www.ncoa.org/economic-security/money-management/scams-security/top-10-scams-targeting-seniors/Fraud.org, a Project of the National Consumer League http://www.fraud.org/home