Des Moines, IA

Change City

---

• Back to News Feed

Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams

Posted on 12/31/23 by The AARP Bulletin

The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a prize, but to claim it, you must first use a gift card to pay an upfront fee.

Such tactics are used by criminals perpetrating gift card scams, and AARP Iowa is helping to educate consumers about such fraud.

“It’s a really big red flag if someone asks you to pay for something with a gift card,” says Neil Shultz, a retired division chief with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office from Des Moines who now serves as an AARP fraud educator.

Another popular ploy: a caller says that a person’s grandchild is in trouble and needs money quickly in the form of gift cards. Thieves like gift cards because they’re virtually untraceable and easily turned into cash, Shultz says.

AARP Iowa will urge state lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session to pass a law requiring retailers to post information on how gift card scams work and how to avoid them.

“We can’t protect people from things they’re not aware of,” says Paige Yontz, AARP Iowa’s advocacy manager.

Some retailers already train employees to spot scams in action. They try to get the potential victim to slow down and think about it, Shultz says.

Sometimes scammers will keep talking to a potential target on the phone even as the person enters the store. Seeing a sign, or hearing a gentle question from an employee, could prevent a fraud from happening, he says.

“They don’t just prey on people who are gullible and naive,” Shultz says. “These are well-intentioned, educated people, but scammers deliver a message that’s so compelling that people who wouldn’t believe it are pulled in.”

—David Lewellen

This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the AARP Iowa page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.

AARP Events for Des Moines

AARP Events for Des Moines

• Featured Event

  Intro to Spotify

  Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT

  Zoom

  Online Event

• Featured Event

  Virtual Museum Tours

  Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT

  Zoom

  Online Event

• Featured Event

  Intro to Tech: Meetup

  Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT

  Zoom

  Online Event

View All AARP Events

Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal

• Immediate access to your member benefits
• Discounts on travel and everyday savings
• Subscription to AARP The Magazine
• FREE second membership

Join AARP

Already a member? Renew or Print Card

Facebook

Contact AARP
in Des Moines

• IAAARP@aarp.org
• AARP Iowa
• Contact Us

     

Return to top

Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]
Code Context
            <?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?>
            <?php if (!$nowrapper):  // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp'
$dataForView = array(
	'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box">

	<div>    
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 12/31/23 
				by <b>The AARP Bulletin</b>			</div>
		</div>
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody">
    
        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a prize, but to claim it, you must first use a gift card to pay an upfront fee.<br><br>Such tactics are used by criminals perpetrating gift card scams, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Iowa</a></span></span> is helping to educate consumers about such fraud.<br><br>“It’s a really big red flag if someone asks you to pay for something with a gift card,” says Neil Shultz, a retired division chief with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office from Des Moines who now serves as an AARP fraud educator.<br><br>Another popular ploy: a caller says that a person’s grandchild is in trouble and needs money quickly in the form of gift cards. Thieves like gift cards because they’re virtually untraceable and easily turned into cash, Shultz says.<br><br>AARP Iowa will urge state lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session to pass a law requiring retailers to post information on how gift card scams work and how to avoid them.<br><br>“We can’t protect people from things they’re not aware of,” says Paige Yontz, AARP Iowa’s advocacy manager.<br><br>Some retailers already train employees to spot scams in action. They try to get the potential victim to slow down and think about it, Shultz says.<br><br>Sometimes scammers will keep talking to a potential target on the phone even as the person enters the store. Seeing a sign, or hearing a gentle question from an employee, could prevent a fraud from happening, he says.<br><br>“They don’t just prey on people who are gullible and naive,” Shultz says. “These are well-intentioned, educated people, but scammers deliver a message that’s so compelling that people who wouldn’t believe it are pulled in.” <br><br><b>—David Lewellen</b></p></div>
    
</div>
</p></span>
		</div>
	</div>

		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
</div>
</div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css">

<!-- bypass -->
<style>
a:focus, a:hover {
    text-decoration: underline;
}
h1.article-headline {
margin: 0 0 1rem;
}
</style>



<!--
<style>
.Enhancement-item .Figure {
margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body ul {
    margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body p{
    margin: 12px 0;
}
.RichTextModule-items {
   clear: both;
    display: table;
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.VideoEnhancement>* {
    color: var(--primaryTextColor);
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 400;
    line-height: 1.4;
    font-style: italic;
    background: #f0efed
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement>* {
        font-size:14px;
        font-weight: 400;
        line-height: 1.47
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-title {
    padding: 20px
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement-title {
        padding:30px
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-player>* {
    position: relative;
    width: 100%;
    height: 0;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}

.VideoEnhancement iframe {
    border: 0;
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%
}
[data-video-player] {
    display: block;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
    height: 0;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}
</style>
--></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750">
<a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" 
	href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" 
	alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" 
	src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a>
</div></div></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default-->
<!-- module_RHS - AARP Events -->

<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
	<header>
		<div class="pull-right">
			<a href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">
				<img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" />
			</a>
		</div>
		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
	</header>
	<div class="wrap">
		<div class="ar-listing snippet">
			<ul class="list">
				<li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-virtual-museum-tours-virtual-ia-121024-3mnw8f5mwrj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-VIRTUAL-MUSEUM-TOURS">Virtual Museum Tours</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-tech-meetup-virtual-ia-121724-49n4bx7hwxg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-TECH-MEETUP">Intro to Tech: Meetup</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
		</div>
	</div>
</div>


<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;">
	<img class="img-responsive image" 
		title="image of two AARP membership cards"
		alt="image of two AARP membership cards" 
		src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png">
	<div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div>
	<ul class="list">
		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
		<li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li>
		<li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li>
		<li>FREE second membership</li>
	</ul>
	<div class="action">
		<a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Join AARP</a>
		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Renew</a> or 
			<a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div>
	</div>
</div>
<style>
.membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;}
.membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; }
</style>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="module-spacer text-center">
<div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true">
	<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>


<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
<header>
<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Des Moines</h2>
</header>
<div class="wrap">

<div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer">
<ul class="list-unstyled">
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DESMOINES-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>

</ul>
</div>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a>

</div>
</div>

 
</div></div>
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div>
</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar -->
	<script type="text/javascript">
		jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() {
			window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href');
		});
	</script>
</div>
</div>
',
	'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</title>
<meta name="page_title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>
<meta content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a" name="description"/>
<meta content="Don, t, Be, Fooled, by, Gift, Card, Scams" name="keywords"/>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams-ia-2023-12-31.html"/>
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/>
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="twitter:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
<meta property="og:type" content="article"/>
<meta property="og:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta property="og:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }',
	'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP'
)
$content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box">

	<div>    
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 12/31/23 
				by <b>The AARP Bulletin</b>			</div>
		</div>
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody">
    
        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a prize, but to claim it, you must first use a gift card to pay an upfront fee.<br><br>Such tactics are used by criminals perpetrating gift card scams, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Iowa</a></span></span> is helping to educate consumers about such fraud.<br><br>“It’s a really big red flag if someone asks you to pay for something with a gift card,” says Neil Shultz, a retired division chief with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office from Des Moines who now serves as an AARP fraud educator.<br><br>Another popular ploy: a caller says that a person’s grandchild is in trouble and needs money quickly in the form of gift cards. Thieves like gift cards because they’re virtually untraceable and easily turned into cash, Shultz says.<br><br>AARP Iowa will urge state lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session to pass a law requiring retailers to post information on how gift card scams work and how to avoid them.<br><br>“We can’t protect people from things they’re not aware of,” says Paige Yontz, AARP Iowa’s advocacy manager.<br><br>Some retailers already train employees to spot scams in action. They try to get the potential victim to slow down and think about it, Shultz says.<br><br>Sometimes scammers will keep talking to a potential target on the phone even as the person enters the store. Seeing a sign, or hearing a gentle question from an employee, could prevent a fraud from happening, he says.<br><br>“They don’t just prey on people who are gullible and naive,” Shultz says. “These are well-intentioned, educated people, but scammers deliver a message that’s so compelling that people who wouldn’t believe it are pulled in.” <br><br><b>—David Lewellen</b></p></div>
    
</div>
</p></span>
		</div>
	</div>

		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
</div>
</div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css">

<!-- bypass -->
<style>
a:focus, a:hover {
    text-decoration: underline;
}
h1.article-headline {
margin: 0 0 1rem;
}
</style>



<!--
<style>
.Enhancement-item .Figure {
margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body ul {
    margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body p{
    margin: 12px 0;
}
.RichTextModule-items {
   clear: both;
    display: table;
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.VideoEnhancement>* {
    color: var(--primaryTextColor);
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 400;
    line-height: 1.4;
    font-style: italic;
    background: #f0efed
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement>* {
        font-size:14px;
        font-weight: 400;
        line-height: 1.47
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-title {
    padding: 20px
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement-title {
        padding:30px
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-player>* {
    position: relative;
    width: 100%;
    height: 0;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}

.VideoEnhancement iframe {
    border: 0;
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%
}
[data-video-player] {
    display: block;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
    height: 0;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}
</style>
--></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750">
<a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" 
	href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" 
	alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" 
	src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a>
</div></div></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default-->
<!-- module_RHS - AARP Events -->

<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
	<header>
		<div class="pull-right">
			<a href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">
				<img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" />
			</a>
		</div>
		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
	</header>
	<div class="wrap">
		<div class="ar-listing snippet">
			<ul class="list">
				<li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-virtual-museum-tours-virtual-ia-121024-3mnw8f5mwrj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-VIRTUAL-MUSEUM-TOURS">Virtual Museum Tours</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-tech-meetup-virtual-ia-121724-49n4bx7hwxg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-TECH-MEETUP">Intro to Tech: Meetup</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
		</div>
	</div>
</div>


<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;">
	<img class="img-responsive image" 
		title="image of two AARP membership cards"
		alt="image of two AARP membership cards" 
		src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png">
	<div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div>
	<ul class="list">
		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
		<li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li>
		<li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li>
		<li>FREE second membership</li>
	</ul>
	<div class="action">
		<a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Join AARP</a>
		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Renew</a> or 
			<a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div>
	</div>
</div>
<style>
.membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;}
.membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; }
</style>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="module-spacer text-center">
<div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true">
	<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>


<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
<header>
<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Des Moines</h2>
</header>
<div class="wrap">

<div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer">
<ul class="list-unstyled">
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DESMOINES-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>

</ul>
</div>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a>

</div>
</div>

 
</div></div>
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div>
</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar -->
	<script type="text/javascript">
		jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() {
			window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href');
		});
	</script>
</div>
</div>
'
$scripts_for_layout = '<title>Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</title>
<meta name="page_title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>
<meta content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a" name="description"/>
<meta content="Don, t, Be, Fooled, by, Gift, Card, Scams" name="keywords"/>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams-ia-2023-12-31.html"/>
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/>
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="twitter:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
<meta property="og:type" content="article"/>
<meta property="og:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta property="og:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }'
$title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP'
$asset_version = '230831'
$min = true
$nowrapper = false
$css = '        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }'
$highlighting = ''
$location = '<a href="/des-moines-ia/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Des Moines, IA</a>'
$no_header = false
$header_title = '<a href="/des-moines-ia/happenings/">News Feed</a>'
$header_subtitle = ''
$isPR = false
$navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse">
	<div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div>
	<ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true">
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li>
		<li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more">
			<span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span>
			<ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu">
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li>
				<!--
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li>
				-->
			</ul>
		</li>
		
	</ul>
</nav>'
$header_custom = ''
$breadcrumbs = array(
	(int) 0 => array(
		'title' => 'News Feed',
		'slug' => 'happenings'
	)
)
$row = array(
	'title' => 'Back to News Feed',
	'slug' => 'happenings'
)
$i = (int) 0
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242
View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971
View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933
View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546
View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481
Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963
AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136
BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81
ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ??
Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118

Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]
Code Context
            <?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?>
            <?php if (!$nowrapper):  // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp'
$dataForView = array(
	'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box">

	<div>    
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 12/31/23 
				by <b>The AARP Bulletin</b>			</div>
		</div>
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody">
    
        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a prize, but to claim it, you must first use a gift card to pay an upfront fee.<br><br>Such tactics are used by criminals perpetrating gift card scams, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Iowa</a></span></span> is helping to educate consumers about such fraud.<br><br>“It’s a really big red flag if someone asks you to pay for something with a gift card,” says Neil Shultz, a retired division chief with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office from Des Moines who now serves as an AARP fraud educator.<br><br>Another popular ploy: a caller says that a person’s grandchild is in trouble and needs money quickly in the form of gift cards. Thieves like gift cards because they’re virtually untraceable and easily turned into cash, Shultz says.<br><br>AARP Iowa will urge state lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session to pass a law requiring retailers to post information on how gift card scams work and how to avoid them.<br><br>“We can’t protect people from things they’re not aware of,” says Paige Yontz, AARP Iowa’s advocacy manager.<br><br>Some retailers already train employees to spot scams in action. They try to get the potential victim to slow down and think about it, Shultz says.<br><br>Sometimes scammers will keep talking to a potential target on the phone even as the person enters the store. Seeing a sign, or hearing a gentle question from an employee, could prevent a fraud from happening, he says.<br><br>“They don’t just prey on people who are gullible and naive,” Shultz says. “These are well-intentioned, educated people, but scammers deliver a message that’s so compelling that people who wouldn’t believe it are pulled in.” <br><br><b>—David Lewellen</b></p></div>
    
</div>
</p></span>
		</div>
	</div>

		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
</div>
</div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css">

<!-- bypass -->
<style>
a:focus, a:hover {
    text-decoration: underline;
}
h1.article-headline {
margin: 0 0 1rem;
}
</style>



<!--
<style>
.Enhancement-item .Figure {
margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body ul {
    margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body p{
    margin: 12px 0;
}
.RichTextModule-items {
   clear: both;
    display: table;
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.VideoEnhancement>* {
    color: var(--primaryTextColor);
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 400;
    line-height: 1.4;
    font-style: italic;
    background: #f0efed
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement>* {
        font-size:14px;
        font-weight: 400;
        line-height: 1.47
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-title {
    padding: 20px
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement-title {
        padding:30px
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-player>* {
    position: relative;
    width: 100%;
    height: 0;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}

.VideoEnhancement iframe {
    border: 0;
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%
}
[data-video-player] {
    display: block;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
    height: 0;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}
</style>
--></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750">
<a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" 
	href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" 
	alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" 
	src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a>
</div></div></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default-->
<!-- module_RHS - AARP Events -->

<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
	<header>
		<div class="pull-right">
			<a href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">
				<img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" />
			</a>
		</div>
		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
	</header>
	<div class="wrap">
		<div class="ar-listing snippet">
			<ul class="list">
				<li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-virtual-museum-tours-virtual-ia-121024-3mnw8f5mwrj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-VIRTUAL-MUSEUM-TOURS">Virtual Museum Tours</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-tech-meetup-virtual-ia-121724-49n4bx7hwxg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-TECH-MEETUP">Intro to Tech: Meetup</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
		</div>
	</div>
</div>


<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;">
	<img class="img-responsive image" 
		title="image of two AARP membership cards"
		alt="image of two AARP membership cards" 
		src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png">
	<div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div>
	<ul class="list">
		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
		<li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li>
		<li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li>
		<li>FREE second membership</li>
	</ul>
	<div class="action">
		<a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Join AARP</a>
		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Renew</a> or 
			<a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div>
	</div>
</div>
<style>
.membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;}
.membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; }
</style>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="module-spacer text-center">
<div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true">
	<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>


<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
<header>
<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Des Moines</h2>
</header>
<div class="wrap">

<div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer">
<ul class="list-unstyled">
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DESMOINES-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>

</ul>
</div>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a>

</div>
</div>

 
</div></div>
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div>
</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar -->
	<script type="text/javascript">
		jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() {
			window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href');
		});
	</script>
</div>
</div>
',
	'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</title>
<meta name="page_title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>
<meta content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a" name="description"/>
<meta content="Don, t, Be, Fooled, by, Gift, Card, Scams" name="keywords"/>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams-ia-2023-12-31.html"/>
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/>
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="twitter:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
<meta property="og:type" content="article"/>
<meta property="og:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta property="og:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }',
	'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP'
)
$content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box">

	<div>    
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 12/31/23 
				by <b>The AARP Bulletin</b>			</div>
		</div>
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody">
    
        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a prize, but to claim it, you must first use a gift card to pay an upfront fee.<br><br>Such tactics are used by criminals perpetrating gift card scams, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Iowa</a></span></span> is helping to educate consumers about such fraud.<br><br>“It’s a really big red flag if someone asks you to pay for something with a gift card,” says Neil Shultz, a retired division chief with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office from Des Moines who now serves as an AARP fraud educator.<br><br>Another popular ploy: a caller says that a person’s grandchild is in trouble and needs money quickly in the form of gift cards. Thieves like gift cards because they’re virtually untraceable and easily turned into cash, Shultz says.<br><br>AARP Iowa will urge state lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session to pass a law requiring retailers to post information on how gift card scams work and how to avoid them.<br><br>“We can’t protect people from things they’re not aware of,” says Paige Yontz, AARP Iowa’s advocacy manager.<br><br>Some retailers already train employees to spot scams in action. They try to get the potential victim to slow down and think about it, Shultz says.<br><br>Sometimes scammers will keep talking to a potential target on the phone even as the person enters the store. Seeing a sign, or hearing a gentle question from an employee, could prevent a fraud from happening, he says.<br><br>“They don’t just prey on people who are gullible and naive,” Shultz says. “These are well-intentioned, educated people, but scammers deliver a message that’s so compelling that people who wouldn’t believe it are pulled in.” <br><br><b>—David Lewellen</b></p></div>
    
</div>
</p></span>
		</div>
	</div>

		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
</div>
</div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css">

<!-- bypass -->
<style>
a:focus, a:hover {
    text-decoration: underline;
}
h1.article-headline {
margin: 0 0 1rem;
}
</style>



<!--
<style>
.Enhancement-item .Figure {
margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body ul {
    margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body p{
    margin: 12px 0;
}
.RichTextModule-items {
   clear: both;
    display: table;
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.VideoEnhancement>* {
    color: var(--primaryTextColor);
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 400;
    line-height: 1.4;
    font-style: italic;
    background: #f0efed
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement>* {
        font-size:14px;
        font-weight: 400;
        line-height: 1.47
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-title {
    padding: 20px
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement-title {
        padding:30px
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-player>* {
    position: relative;
    width: 100%;
    height: 0;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}

.VideoEnhancement iframe {
    border: 0;
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%
}
[data-video-player] {
    display: block;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
    height: 0;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}
</style>
--></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750">
<a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" 
	href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" 
	alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" 
	src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a>
</div></div></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default-->
<!-- module_RHS - AARP Events -->

<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
	<header>
		<div class="pull-right">
			<a href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">
				<img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" />
			</a>
		</div>
		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
	</header>
	<div class="wrap">
		<div class="ar-listing snippet">
			<ul class="list">
				<li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-virtual-museum-tours-virtual-ia-121024-3mnw8f5mwrj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-VIRTUAL-MUSEUM-TOURS">Virtual Museum Tours</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-tech-meetup-virtual-ia-121724-49n4bx7hwxg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-TECH-MEETUP">Intro to Tech: Meetup</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
		</div>
	</div>
</div>


<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;">
	<img class="img-responsive image" 
		title="image of two AARP membership cards"
		alt="image of two AARP membership cards" 
		src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png">
	<div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div>
	<ul class="list">
		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
		<li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li>
		<li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li>
		<li>FREE second membership</li>
	</ul>
	<div class="action">
		<a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Join AARP</a>
		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Renew</a> or 
			<a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div>
	</div>
</div>
<style>
.membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;}
.membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; }
</style>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="module-spacer text-center">
<div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true">
	<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>


<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
<header>
<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Des Moines</h2>
</header>
<div class="wrap">

<div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer">
<ul class="list-unstyled">
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DESMOINES-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>

</ul>
</div>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a>

</div>
</div>

 
</div></div>
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div>
</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar -->
	<script type="text/javascript">
		jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() {
			window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href');
		});
	</script>
</div>
</div>
'
$scripts_for_layout = '<title>Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</title>
<meta name="page_title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>
<meta content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a" name="description"/>
<meta content="Don, t, Be, Fooled, by, Gift, Card, Scams" name="keywords"/>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams-ia-2023-12-31.html"/>
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/>
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="twitter:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
<meta property="og:type" content="article"/>
<meta property="og:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta property="og:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }'
$title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP'
$asset_version = '230831'
$min = true
$nowrapper = false
$css = '        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }'
$highlighting = ''
$location = '<a href="/des-moines-ia/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Des Moines, IA</a>'
$no_header = false
$header_title = '<a href="/des-moines-ia/happenings/">News Feed</a>'
$header_subtitle = ''
$isPR = false
$navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse">
	<div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div>
	<ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true">
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li>
		<li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more">
			<span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span>
			<ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu">
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li>
				<!--
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li>
				-->
			</ul>
		</li>
		
	</ul>
</nav>'
$header_custom = ''
$breadcrumbs = array(
	(int) 0 => array(
		'title' => 'News Feed',
		'slug' => 'happenings'
	)
)
$row = array(
	'title' => 'Back to News Feed',
	'slug' => 'happenings'
)
$i = (int) 0
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242
View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971
View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933
View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546
View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481
Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963
AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136
BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81
ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ??
Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118

Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]
Code Context
            <?php if (!$nowrapper):  // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp'
$dataForView = array(
	'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box">

	<div>    
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 12/31/23 
				by <b>The AARP Bulletin</b>			</div>
		</div>
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody">
    
        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a prize, but to claim it, you must first use a gift card to pay an upfront fee.<br><br>Such tactics are used by criminals perpetrating gift card scams, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Iowa</a></span></span> is helping to educate consumers about such fraud.<br><br>“It’s a really big red flag if someone asks you to pay for something with a gift card,” says Neil Shultz, a retired division chief with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office from Des Moines who now serves as an AARP fraud educator.<br><br>Another popular ploy: a caller says that a person’s grandchild is in trouble and needs money quickly in the form of gift cards. Thieves like gift cards because they’re virtually untraceable and easily turned into cash, Shultz says.<br><br>AARP Iowa will urge state lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session to pass a law requiring retailers to post information on how gift card scams work and how to avoid them.<br><br>“We can’t protect people from things they’re not aware of,” says Paige Yontz, AARP Iowa’s advocacy manager.<br><br>Some retailers already train employees to spot scams in action. They try to get the potential victim to slow down and think about it, Shultz says.<br><br>Sometimes scammers will keep talking to a potential target on the phone even as the person enters the store. Seeing a sign, or hearing a gentle question from an employee, could prevent a fraud from happening, he says.<br><br>“They don’t just prey on people who are gullible and naive,” Shultz says. “These are well-intentioned, educated people, but scammers deliver a message that’s so compelling that people who wouldn’t believe it are pulled in.” <br><br><b>—David Lewellen</b></p></div>
    
</div>
</p></span>
		</div>
	</div>

		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
</div>
</div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css">

<!-- bypass -->
<style>
a:focus, a:hover {
    text-decoration: underline;
}
h1.article-headline {
margin: 0 0 1rem;
}
</style>



<!--
<style>
.Enhancement-item .Figure {
margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body ul {
    margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body p{
    margin: 12px 0;
}
.RichTextModule-items {
   clear: both;
    display: table;
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.VideoEnhancement>* {
    color: var(--primaryTextColor);
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 400;
    line-height: 1.4;
    font-style: italic;
    background: #f0efed
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement>* {
        font-size:14px;
        font-weight: 400;
        line-height: 1.47
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-title {
    padding: 20px
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement-title {
        padding:30px
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-player>* {
    position: relative;
    width: 100%;
    height: 0;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}

.VideoEnhancement iframe {
    border: 0;
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%
}
[data-video-player] {
    display: block;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
    height: 0;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}
</style>
--></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750">
<a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" 
	href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" 
	alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" 
	src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a>
</div></div></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default-->
<!-- module_RHS - AARP Events -->

<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
	<header>
		<div class="pull-right">
			<a href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">
				<img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" />
			</a>
		</div>
		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
	</header>
	<div class="wrap">
		<div class="ar-listing snippet">
			<ul class="list">
				<li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-virtual-museum-tours-virtual-ia-121024-3mnw8f5mwrj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-VIRTUAL-MUSEUM-TOURS">Virtual Museum Tours</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-tech-meetup-virtual-ia-121724-49n4bx7hwxg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-TECH-MEETUP">Intro to Tech: Meetup</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
		</div>
	</div>
</div>


<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;">
	<img class="img-responsive image" 
		title="image of two AARP membership cards"
		alt="image of two AARP membership cards" 
		src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png">
	<div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div>
	<ul class="list">
		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
		<li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li>
		<li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li>
		<li>FREE second membership</li>
	</ul>
	<div class="action">
		<a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Join AARP</a>
		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Renew</a> or 
			<a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div>
	</div>
</div>
<style>
.membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;}
.membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; }
</style>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="module-spacer text-center">
<div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true">
	<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>


<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
<header>
<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Des Moines</h2>
</header>
<div class="wrap">

<div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer">
<ul class="list-unstyled">
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DESMOINES-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>

</ul>
</div>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a>

</div>
</div>

 
</div></div>
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div>
</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar -->
	<script type="text/javascript">
		jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() {
			window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href');
		});
	</script>
</div>
</div>
',
	'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</title>
<meta name="page_title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>
<meta content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a" name="description"/>
<meta content="Don, t, Be, Fooled, by, Gift, Card, Scams" name="keywords"/>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams-ia-2023-12-31.html"/>
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/>
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="twitter:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
<meta property="og:type" content="article"/>
<meta property="og:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta property="og:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }',
	'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP'
)
$content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box">

	<div>    
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 12/31/23 
				by <b>The AARP Bulletin</b>			</div>
		</div>
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody">
    
        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a prize, but to claim it, you must first use a gift card to pay an upfront fee.<br><br>Such tactics are used by criminals perpetrating gift card scams, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Iowa</a></span></span> is helping to educate consumers about such fraud.<br><br>“It’s a really big red flag if someone asks you to pay for something with a gift card,” says Neil Shultz, a retired division chief with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office from Des Moines who now serves as an AARP fraud educator.<br><br>Another popular ploy: a caller says that a person’s grandchild is in trouble and needs money quickly in the form of gift cards. Thieves like gift cards because they’re virtually untraceable and easily turned into cash, Shultz says.<br><br>AARP Iowa will urge state lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session to pass a law requiring retailers to post information on how gift card scams work and how to avoid them.<br><br>“We can’t protect people from things they’re not aware of,” says Paige Yontz, AARP Iowa’s advocacy manager.<br><br>Some retailers already train employees to spot scams in action. They try to get the potential victim to slow down and think about it, Shultz says.<br><br>Sometimes scammers will keep talking to a potential target on the phone even as the person enters the store. Seeing a sign, or hearing a gentle question from an employee, could prevent a fraud from happening, he says.<br><br>“They don’t just prey on people who are gullible and naive,” Shultz says. “These are well-intentioned, educated people, but scammers deliver a message that’s so compelling that people who wouldn’t believe it are pulled in.” <br><br><b>—David Lewellen</b></p></div>
    
</div>
</p></span>
		</div>
	</div>

		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
</div>
</div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css">

<!-- bypass -->
<style>
a:focus, a:hover {
    text-decoration: underline;
}
h1.article-headline {
margin: 0 0 1rem;
}
</style>



<!--
<style>
.Enhancement-item .Figure {
margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body ul {
    margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body p{
    margin: 12px 0;
}
.RichTextModule-items {
   clear: both;
    display: table;
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.VideoEnhancement>* {
    color: var(--primaryTextColor);
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 400;
    line-height: 1.4;
    font-style: italic;
    background: #f0efed
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement>* {
        font-size:14px;
        font-weight: 400;
        line-height: 1.47
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-title {
    padding: 20px
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement-title {
        padding:30px
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-player>* {
    position: relative;
    width: 100%;
    height: 0;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}

.VideoEnhancement iframe {
    border: 0;
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%
}
[data-video-player] {
    display: block;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
    height: 0;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}
</style>
--></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750">
<a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" 
	href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" 
	alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" 
	src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a>
</div></div></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default-->
<!-- module_RHS - AARP Events -->

<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
	<header>
		<div class="pull-right">
			<a href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">
				<img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" />
			</a>
		</div>
		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
	</header>
	<div class="wrap">
		<div class="ar-listing snippet">
			<ul class="list">
				<li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-virtual-museum-tours-virtual-ia-121024-3mnw8f5mwrj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-VIRTUAL-MUSEUM-TOURS">Virtual Museum Tours</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-tech-meetup-virtual-ia-121724-49n4bx7hwxg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-TECH-MEETUP">Intro to Tech: Meetup</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
		</div>
	</div>
</div>


<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;">
	<img class="img-responsive image" 
		title="image of two AARP membership cards"
		alt="image of two AARP membership cards" 
		src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png">
	<div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div>
	<ul class="list">
		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
		<li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li>
		<li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li>
		<li>FREE second membership</li>
	</ul>
	<div class="action">
		<a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Join AARP</a>
		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Renew</a> or 
			<a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div>
	</div>
</div>
<style>
.membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;}
.membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; }
</style>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="module-spacer text-center">
<div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true">
	<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>


<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
<header>
<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Des Moines</h2>
</header>
<div class="wrap">

<div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer">
<ul class="list-unstyled">
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DESMOINES-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>

</ul>
</div>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a>

</div>
</div>

 
</div></div>
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div>
</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar -->
	<script type="text/javascript">
		jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() {
			window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href');
		});
	</script>
</div>
</div>
'
$scripts_for_layout = '<title>Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</title>
<meta name="page_title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>
<meta content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a" name="description"/>
<meta content="Don, t, Be, Fooled, by, Gift, Card, Scams" name="keywords"/>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams-ia-2023-12-31.html"/>
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/>
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="twitter:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
<meta property="og:type" content="article"/>
<meta property="og:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta property="og:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }'
$title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP'
$asset_version = '230831'
$min = true
$nowrapper = false
$css = '        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }'
$highlighting = ''
$location = '<a href="/des-moines-ia/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Des Moines, IA</a>'
$no_header = false
$header_title = '<a href="/des-moines-ia/happenings/">News Feed</a>'
$header_subtitle = ''
$isPR = false
$navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse">
	<div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div>
	<ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true">
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li>
		<li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more">
			<span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span>
			<ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu">
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li>
				<!--
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li>
				-->
			</ul>
		</li>
		
	</ul>
</nav>'
$header_custom = ''
$breadcrumbs = array(
	(int) 0 => array(
		'title' => 'News Feed',
		'slug' => 'happenings'
	)
)
$row = array(
	'title' => 'Back to News Feed',
	'slug' => 'happenings'
)
$i = (int) 0
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243
View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971
View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933
View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546
View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481
Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963
AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136
BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81
ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ??
Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118

Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]
Code Context
            <?php if (!$nowrapper):  // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp'
$dataForView = array(
	'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box">

	<div>    
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 12/31/23 
				by <b>The AARP Bulletin</b>			</div>
		</div>
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody">
    
        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a prize, but to claim it, you must first use a gift card to pay an upfront fee.<br><br>Such tactics are used by criminals perpetrating gift card scams, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Iowa</a></span></span> is helping to educate consumers about such fraud.<br><br>“It’s a really big red flag if someone asks you to pay for something with a gift card,” says Neil Shultz, a retired division chief with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office from Des Moines who now serves as an AARP fraud educator.<br><br>Another popular ploy: a caller says that a person’s grandchild is in trouble and needs money quickly in the form of gift cards. Thieves like gift cards because they’re virtually untraceable and easily turned into cash, Shultz says.<br><br>AARP Iowa will urge state lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session to pass a law requiring retailers to post information on how gift card scams work and how to avoid them.<br><br>“We can’t protect people from things they’re not aware of,” says Paige Yontz, AARP Iowa’s advocacy manager.<br><br>Some retailers already train employees to spot scams in action. They try to get the potential victim to slow down and think about it, Shultz says.<br><br>Sometimes scammers will keep talking to a potential target on the phone even as the person enters the store. Seeing a sign, or hearing a gentle question from an employee, could prevent a fraud from happening, he says.<br><br>“They don’t just prey on people who are gullible and naive,” Shultz says. “These are well-intentioned, educated people, but scammers deliver a message that’s so compelling that people who wouldn’t believe it are pulled in.” <br><br><b>—David Lewellen</b></p></div>
    
</div>
</p></span>
		</div>
	</div>

		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
</div>
</div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css">

<!-- bypass -->
<style>
a:focus, a:hover {
    text-decoration: underline;
}
h1.article-headline {
margin: 0 0 1rem;
}
</style>



<!--
<style>
.Enhancement-item .Figure {
margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body ul {
    margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body p{
    margin: 12px 0;
}
.RichTextModule-items {
   clear: both;
    display: table;
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.VideoEnhancement>* {
    color: var(--primaryTextColor);
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 400;
    line-height: 1.4;
    font-style: italic;
    background: #f0efed
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement>* {
        font-size:14px;
        font-weight: 400;
        line-height: 1.47
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-title {
    padding: 20px
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement-title {
        padding:30px
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-player>* {
    position: relative;
    width: 100%;
    height: 0;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}

.VideoEnhancement iframe {
    border: 0;
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%
}
[data-video-player] {
    display: block;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
    height: 0;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}
</style>
--></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750">
<a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" 
	href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" 
	alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" 
	src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a>
</div></div></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default-->
<!-- module_RHS - AARP Events -->

<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
	<header>
		<div class="pull-right">
			<a href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">
				<img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" />
			</a>
		</div>
		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
	</header>
	<div class="wrap">
		<div class="ar-listing snippet">
			<ul class="list">
				<li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-virtual-museum-tours-virtual-ia-121024-3mnw8f5mwrj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-VIRTUAL-MUSEUM-TOURS">Virtual Museum Tours</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-tech-meetup-virtual-ia-121724-49n4bx7hwxg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-TECH-MEETUP">Intro to Tech: Meetup</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
		</div>
	</div>
</div>


<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;">
	<img class="img-responsive image" 
		title="image of two AARP membership cards"
		alt="image of two AARP membership cards" 
		src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png">
	<div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div>
	<ul class="list">
		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
		<li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li>
		<li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li>
		<li>FREE second membership</li>
	</ul>
	<div class="action">
		<a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Join AARP</a>
		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Renew</a> or 
			<a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div>
	</div>
</div>
<style>
.membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;}
.membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; }
</style>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="module-spacer text-center">
<div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true">
	<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>


<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
<header>
<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Des Moines</h2>
</header>
<div class="wrap">

<div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer">
<ul class="list-unstyled">
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DESMOINES-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>

</ul>
</div>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a>

</div>
</div>

 
</div></div>
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div>
</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar -->
	<script type="text/javascript">
		jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() {
			window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href');
		});
	</script>
</div>
</div>
',
	'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</title>
<meta name="page_title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>
<meta content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a" name="description"/>
<meta content="Don, t, Be, Fooled, by, Gift, Card, Scams" name="keywords"/>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams-ia-2023-12-31.html"/>
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/>
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="twitter:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
<meta property="og:type" content="article"/>
<meta property="og:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta property="og:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }',
	'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP'
)
$content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box">

	<div>    
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 12/31/23 
				by <b>The AARP Bulletin</b>			</div>
		</div>
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody">
    
        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a prize, but to claim it, you must first use a gift card to pay an upfront fee.<br><br>Such tactics are used by criminals perpetrating gift card scams, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Iowa</a></span></span> is helping to educate consumers about such fraud.<br><br>“It’s a really big red flag if someone asks you to pay for something with a gift card,” says Neil Shultz, a retired division chief with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office from Des Moines who now serves as an AARP fraud educator.<br><br>Another popular ploy: a caller says that a person’s grandchild is in trouble and needs money quickly in the form of gift cards. Thieves like gift cards because they’re virtually untraceable and easily turned into cash, Shultz says.<br><br>AARP Iowa will urge state lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session to pass a law requiring retailers to post information on how gift card scams work and how to avoid them.<br><br>“We can’t protect people from things they’re not aware of,” says Paige Yontz, AARP Iowa’s advocacy manager.<br><br>Some retailers already train employees to spot scams in action. They try to get the potential victim to slow down and think about it, Shultz says.<br><br>Sometimes scammers will keep talking to a potential target on the phone even as the person enters the store. Seeing a sign, or hearing a gentle question from an employee, could prevent a fraud from happening, he says.<br><br>“They don’t just prey on people who are gullible and naive,” Shultz says. “These are well-intentioned, educated people, but scammers deliver a message that’s so compelling that people who wouldn’t believe it are pulled in.” <br><br><b>—David Lewellen</b></p></div>
    
</div>
</p></span>
		</div>
	</div>

		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
</div>
</div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css">

<!-- bypass -->
<style>
a:focus, a:hover {
    text-decoration: underline;
}
h1.article-headline {
margin: 0 0 1rem;
}
</style>



<!--
<style>
.Enhancement-item .Figure {
margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body ul {
    margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body p{
    margin: 12px 0;
}
.RichTextModule-items {
   clear: both;
    display: table;
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.VideoEnhancement>* {
    color: var(--primaryTextColor);
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 400;
    line-height: 1.4;
    font-style: italic;
    background: #f0efed
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement>* {
        font-size:14px;
        font-weight: 400;
        line-height: 1.47
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-title {
    padding: 20px
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement-title {
        padding:30px
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-player>* {
    position: relative;
    width: 100%;
    height: 0;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}

.VideoEnhancement iframe {
    border: 0;
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%
}
[data-video-player] {
    display: block;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
    height: 0;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}
</style>
--></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750">
<a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" 
	href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" 
	alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" 
	src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a>
</div></div></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default-->
<!-- module_RHS - AARP Events -->

<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
	<header>
		<div class="pull-right">
			<a href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">
				<img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" />
			</a>
		</div>
		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
	</header>
	<div class="wrap">
		<div class="ar-listing snippet">
			<ul class="list">
				<li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-virtual-museum-tours-virtual-ia-121024-3mnw8f5mwrj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-VIRTUAL-MUSEUM-TOURS">Virtual Museum Tours</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-tech-meetup-virtual-ia-121724-49n4bx7hwxg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-TECH-MEETUP">Intro to Tech: Meetup</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
		</div>
	</div>
</div>


<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;">
	<img class="img-responsive image" 
		title="image of two AARP membership cards"
		alt="image of two AARP membership cards" 
		src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png">
	<div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div>
	<ul class="list">
		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
		<li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li>
		<li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li>
		<li>FREE second membership</li>
	</ul>
	<div class="action">
		<a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Join AARP</a>
		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Renew</a> or 
			<a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div>
	</div>
</div>
<style>
.membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;}
.membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; }
</style>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="module-spacer text-center">
<div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true">
	<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>


<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
<header>
<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Des Moines</h2>
</header>
<div class="wrap">

<div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer">
<ul class="list-unstyled">
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DESMOINES-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>

</ul>
</div>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a>

</div>
</div>

 
</div></div>
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div>
</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar -->
	<script type="text/javascript">
		jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() {
			window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href');
		});
	</script>
</div>
</div>
'
$scripts_for_layout = '<title>Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</title>
<meta name="page_title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>
<meta content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a" name="description"/>
<meta content="Don, t, Be, Fooled, by, Gift, Card, Scams" name="keywords"/>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams-ia-2023-12-31.html"/>
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/>
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="twitter:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
<meta property="og:type" content="article"/>
<meta property="og:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta property="og:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }'
$title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP'
$asset_version = '230831'
$min = true
$nowrapper = false
$css = '        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }'
$highlighting = ''
$location = '<a href="/des-moines-ia/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Des Moines, IA</a>'
$no_header = false
$header_title = '<a href="/des-moines-ia/happenings/">News Feed</a>'
$header_subtitle = ''
$isPR = false
$navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse">
	<div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div>
	<ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true">
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li>
		<li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more">
			<span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span>
			<ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu">
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li>
				<!--
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li>
				-->
			</ul>
		</li>
		
	</ul>
</nav>'
$header_custom = ''
$breadcrumbs = array(
	(int) 0 => array(
		'title' => 'News Feed',
		'slug' => 'happenings'
	)
)
$row = array(
	'title' => 'Back to News Feed',
	'slug' => 'happenings'
)
$i = (int) 0
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243
View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971
View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933
View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546
View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481
Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963
AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136
BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81
ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ??
Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118

Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244]
Code Context
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp'
$dataForView = array(
	'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box">

	<div>    
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 12/31/23 
				by <b>The AARP Bulletin</b>			</div>
		</div>
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody">
    
        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a prize, but to claim it, you must first use a gift card to pay an upfront fee.<br><br>Such tactics are used by criminals perpetrating gift card scams, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Iowa</a></span></span> is helping to educate consumers about such fraud.<br><br>“It’s a really big red flag if someone asks you to pay for something with a gift card,” says Neil Shultz, a retired division chief with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office from Des Moines who now serves as an AARP fraud educator.<br><br>Another popular ploy: a caller says that a person’s grandchild is in trouble and needs money quickly in the form of gift cards. Thieves like gift cards because they’re virtually untraceable and easily turned into cash, Shultz says.<br><br>AARP Iowa will urge state lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session to pass a law requiring retailers to post information on how gift card scams work and how to avoid them.<br><br>“We can’t protect people from things they’re not aware of,” says Paige Yontz, AARP Iowa’s advocacy manager.<br><br>Some retailers already train employees to spot scams in action. They try to get the potential victim to slow down and think about it, Shultz says.<br><br>Sometimes scammers will keep talking to a potential target on the phone even as the person enters the store. Seeing a sign, or hearing a gentle question from an employee, could prevent a fraud from happening, he says.<br><br>“They don’t just prey on people who are gullible and naive,” Shultz says. “These are well-intentioned, educated people, but scammers deliver a message that’s so compelling that people who wouldn’t believe it are pulled in.” <br><br><b>—David Lewellen</b></p></div>
    
</div>
</p></span>
		</div>
	</div>

		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
</div>
</div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css">

<!-- bypass -->
<style>
a:focus, a:hover {
    text-decoration: underline;
}
h1.article-headline {
margin: 0 0 1rem;
}
</style>



<!--
<style>
.Enhancement-item .Figure {
margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body ul {
    margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body p{
    margin: 12px 0;
}
.RichTextModule-items {
   clear: both;
    display: table;
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.VideoEnhancement>* {
    color: var(--primaryTextColor);
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 400;
    line-height: 1.4;
    font-style: italic;
    background: #f0efed
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement>* {
        font-size:14px;
        font-weight: 400;
        line-height: 1.47
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-title {
    padding: 20px
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement-title {
        padding:30px
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-player>* {
    position: relative;
    width: 100%;
    height: 0;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}

.VideoEnhancement iframe {
    border: 0;
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%
}
[data-video-player] {
    display: block;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
    height: 0;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}
</style>
--></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750">
<a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" 
	href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" 
	alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" 
	src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a>
</div></div></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default-->
<!-- module_RHS - AARP Events -->

<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
	<header>
		<div class="pull-right">
			<a href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">
				<img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" />
			</a>
		</div>
		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
	</header>
	<div class="wrap">
		<div class="ar-listing snippet">
			<ul class="list">
				<li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-virtual-museum-tours-virtual-ia-121024-3mnw8f5mwrj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-VIRTUAL-MUSEUM-TOURS">Virtual Museum Tours</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-tech-meetup-virtual-ia-121724-49n4bx7hwxg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-TECH-MEETUP">Intro to Tech: Meetup</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
		</div>
	</div>
</div>


<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;">
	<img class="img-responsive image" 
		title="image of two AARP membership cards"
		alt="image of two AARP membership cards" 
		src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png">
	<div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div>
	<ul class="list">
		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
		<li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li>
		<li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li>
		<li>FREE second membership</li>
	</ul>
	<div class="action">
		<a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Join AARP</a>
		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Renew</a> or 
			<a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div>
	</div>
</div>
<style>
.membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;}
.membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; }
</style>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="module-spacer text-center">
<div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true">
	<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>


<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
<header>
<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Des Moines</h2>
</header>
<div class="wrap">

<div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer">
<ul class="list-unstyled">
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DESMOINES-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>

</ul>
</div>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a>

</div>
</div>

 
</div></div>
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div>
</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar -->
	<script type="text/javascript">
		jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() {
			window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href');
		});
	</script>
</div>
</div>
',
	'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</title>
<meta name="page_title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>
<meta content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a" name="description"/>
<meta content="Don, t, Be, Fooled, by, Gift, Card, Scams" name="keywords"/>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams-ia-2023-12-31.html"/>
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/>
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="twitter:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
<meta property="og:type" content="article"/>
<meta property="og:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta property="og:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }',
	'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP'
)
$content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box">

	<div>    
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 12/31/23 
				by <b>The AARP Bulletin</b>			</div>
		</div>
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody">
    
        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a prize, but to claim it, you must first use a gift card to pay an upfront fee.<br><br>Such tactics are used by criminals perpetrating gift card scams, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Iowa</a></span></span> is helping to educate consumers about such fraud.<br><br>“It’s a really big red flag if someone asks you to pay for something with a gift card,” says Neil Shultz, a retired division chief with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office from Des Moines who now serves as an AARP fraud educator.<br><br>Another popular ploy: a caller says that a person’s grandchild is in trouble and needs money quickly in the form of gift cards. Thieves like gift cards because they’re virtually untraceable and easily turned into cash, Shultz says.<br><br>AARP Iowa will urge state lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session to pass a law requiring retailers to post information on how gift card scams work and how to avoid them.<br><br>“We can’t protect people from things they’re not aware of,” says Paige Yontz, AARP Iowa’s advocacy manager.<br><br>Some retailers already train employees to spot scams in action. They try to get the potential victim to slow down and think about it, Shultz says.<br><br>Sometimes scammers will keep talking to a potential target on the phone even as the person enters the store. Seeing a sign, or hearing a gentle question from an employee, could prevent a fraud from happening, he says.<br><br>“They don’t just prey on people who are gullible and naive,” Shultz says. “These are well-intentioned, educated people, but scammers deliver a message that’s so compelling that people who wouldn’t believe it are pulled in.” <br><br><b>—David Lewellen</b></p></div>
    
</div>
</p></span>
		</div>
	</div>

		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
</div>
</div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css">

<!-- bypass -->
<style>
a:focus, a:hover {
    text-decoration: underline;
}
h1.article-headline {
margin: 0 0 1rem;
}
</style>



<!--
<style>
.Enhancement-item .Figure {
margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body ul {
    margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body p{
    margin: 12px 0;
}
.RichTextModule-items {
   clear: both;
    display: table;
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.VideoEnhancement>* {
    color: var(--primaryTextColor);
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 400;
    line-height: 1.4;
    font-style: italic;
    background: #f0efed
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement>* {
        font-size:14px;
        font-weight: 400;
        line-height: 1.47
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-title {
    padding: 20px
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement-title {
        padding:30px
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-player>* {
    position: relative;
    width: 100%;
    height: 0;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}

.VideoEnhancement iframe {
    border: 0;
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%
}
[data-video-player] {
    display: block;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
    height: 0;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}
</style>
--></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750">
<a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" 
	href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" 
	alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" 
	src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a>
</div></div></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default-->
<!-- module_RHS - AARP Events -->

<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
	<header>
		<div class="pull-right">
			<a href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">
				<img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" />
			</a>
		</div>
		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
	</header>
	<div class="wrap">
		<div class="ar-listing snippet">
			<ul class="list">
				<li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-virtual-museum-tours-virtual-ia-121024-3mnw8f5mwrj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-VIRTUAL-MUSEUM-TOURS">Virtual Museum Tours</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-tech-meetup-virtual-ia-121724-49n4bx7hwxg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-TECH-MEETUP">Intro to Tech: Meetup</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
		</div>
	</div>
</div>


<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;">
	<img class="img-responsive image" 
		title="image of two AARP membership cards"
		alt="image of two AARP membership cards" 
		src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png">
	<div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div>
	<ul class="list">
		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
		<li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li>
		<li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li>
		<li>FREE second membership</li>
	</ul>
	<div class="action">
		<a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Join AARP</a>
		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Renew</a> or 
			<a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div>
	</div>
</div>
<style>
.membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;}
.membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; }
</style>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="module-spacer text-center">
<div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true">
	<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>


<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
<header>
<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Des Moines</h2>
</header>
<div class="wrap">

<div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer">
<ul class="list-unstyled">
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DESMOINES-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>

</ul>
</div>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a>

</div>
</div>

 
</div></div>
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div>
</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar -->
	<script type="text/javascript">
		jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() {
			window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href');
		});
	</script>
</div>
</div>
'
$scripts_for_layout = '<title>Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</title>
<meta name="page_title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>
<meta content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a" name="description"/>
<meta content="Don, t, Be, Fooled, by, Gift, Card, Scams" name="keywords"/>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams-ia-2023-12-31.html"/>
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/>
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="twitter:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
<meta property="og:type" content="article"/>
<meta property="og:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta property="og:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }'
$title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP'
$asset_version = '230831'
$min = true
$nowrapper = false
$css = '        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }'
$highlighting = ''
$location = '<a href="/des-moines-ia/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Des Moines, IA</a>'
$no_header = false
$header_title = '<a href="/des-moines-ia/happenings/">News Feed</a>'
$header_subtitle = ''
$isPR = false
$navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse">
	<div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div>
	<ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true">
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li>
		<li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more">
			<span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span>
			<ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu">
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li>
				<!--
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li>
				-->
			</ul>
		</li>
		
	</ul>
</nav>'
$header_custom = ''
$breadcrumbs = array(
	(int) 0 => array(
		'title' => 'News Feed',
		'slug' => 'happenings'
	)
)
$row = array(
	'title' => 'Back to News Feed',
	'slug' => 'happenings'
)
$i = (int) 0
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244
View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971
View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933
View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546
View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481
Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963
AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136
BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81
ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ??
Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118

Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244]
Code Context
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
                    include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp'
$dataForView = array(
	'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box">

	<div>    
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 12/31/23 
				by <b>The AARP Bulletin</b>			</div>
		</div>
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody">
    
        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a prize, but to claim it, you must first use a gift card to pay an upfront fee.<br><br>Such tactics are used by criminals perpetrating gift card scams, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Iowa</a></span></span> is helping to educate consumers about such fraud.<br><br>“It’s a really big red flag if someone asks you to pay for something with a gift card,” says Neil Shultz, a retired division chief with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office from Des Moines who now serves as an AARP fraud educator.<br><br>Another popular ploy: a caller says that a person’s grandchild is in trouble and needs money quickly in the form of gift cards. Thieves like gift cards because they’re virtually untraceable and easily turned into cash, Shultz says.<br><br>AARP Iowa will urge state lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session to pass a law requiring retailers to post information on how gift card scams work and how to avoid them.<br><br>“We can’t protect people from things they’re not aware of,” says Paige Yontz, AARP Iowa’s advocacy manager.<br><br>Some retailers already train employees to spot scams in action. They try to get the potential victim to slow down and think about it, Shultz says.<br><br>Sometimes scammers will keep talking to a potential target on the phone even as the person enters the store. Seeing a sign, or hearing a gentle question from an employee, could prevent a fraud from happening, he says.<br><br>“They don’t just prey on people who are gullible and naive,” Shultz says. “These are well-intentioned, educated people, but scammers deliver a message that’s so compelling that people who wouldn’t believe it are pulled in.” <br><br><b>—David Lewellen</b></p></div>
    
</div>
</p></span>
		</div>
	</div>

		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
</div>
</div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css">

<!-- bypass -->
<style>
a:focus, a:hover {
    text-decoration: underline;
}
h1.article-headline {
margin: 0 0 1rem;
}
</style>



<!--
<style>
.Enhancement-item .Figure {
margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body ul {
    margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body p{
    margin: 12px 0;
}
.RichTextModule-items {
   clear: both;
    display: table;
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.VideoEnhancement>* {
    color: var(--primaryTextColor);
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 400;
    line-height: 1.4;
    font-style: italic;
    background: #f0efed
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement>* {
        font-size:14px;
        font-weight: 400;
        line-height: 1.47
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-title {
    padding: 20px
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement-title {
        padding:30px
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-player>* {
    position: relative;
    width: 100%;
    height: 0;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}

.VideoEnhancement iframe {
    border: 0;
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%
}
[data-video-player] {
    display: block;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
    height: 0;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}
</style>
--></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750">
<a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" 
	href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" 
	alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" 
	src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a>
</div></div></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default-->
<!-- module_RHS - AARP Events -->

<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
	<header>
		<div class="pull-right">
			<a href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">
				<img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" />
			</a>
		</div>
		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
	</header>
	<div class="wrap">
		<div class="ar-listing snippet">
			<ul class="list">
				<li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-virtual-museum-tours-virtual-ia-121024-3mnw8f5mwrj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-VIRTUAL-MUSEUM-TOURS">Virtual Museum Tours</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-tech-meetup-virtual-ia-121724-49n4bx7hwxg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-TECH-MEETUP">Intro to Tech: Meetup</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
		</div>
	</div>
</div>


<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;">
	<img class="img-responsive image" 
		title="image of two AARP membership cards"
		alt="image of two AARP membership cards" 
		src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png">
	<div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div>
	<ul class="list">
		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
		<li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li>
		<li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li>
		<li>FREE second membership</li>
	</ul>
	<div class="action">
		<a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Join AARP</a>
		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Renew</a> or 
			<a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div>
	</div>
</div>
<style>
.membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;}
.membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; }
</style>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="module-spacer text-center">
<div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true">
	<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>


<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
<header>
<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Des Moines</h2>
</header>
<div class="wrap">

<div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer">
<ul class="list-unstyled">
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DESMOINES-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>

</ul>
</div>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a>

</div>
</div>

 
</div></div>
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div>
</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar -->
	<script type="text/javascript">
		jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() {
			window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href');
		});
	</script>
</div>
</div>
',
	'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</title>
<meta name="page_title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>
<meta content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a" name="description"/>
<meta content="Don, t, Be, Fooled, by, Gift, Card, Scams" name="keywords"/>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams-ia-2023-12-31.html"/>
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/>
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="twitter:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
<meta property="og:type" content="article"/>
<meta property="og:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta property="og:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }',
	'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP'
)
$content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box">

	<div>    
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<header><h1 class="article-headline">Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</h1></header>	
						<div class="posted-on">
				Posted on 12/31/23 
				by <b>The AARP Bulletin</b>			</div>
		</div>
		<div class="module-spacer">
			<span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody">
    
        <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a prize, but to claim it, you must first use a gift card to pay an upfront fee.<br><br>Such tactics are used by criminals perpetrating gift card scams, and <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Iowa</a></span></span> is helping to educate consumers about such fraud.<br><br>“It’s a really big red flag if someone asks you to pay for something with a gift card,” says Neil Shultz, a retired division chief with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office from Des Moines who now serves as an AARP fraud educator.<br><br>Another popular ploy: a caller says that a person’s grandchild is in trouble and needs money quickly in the form of gift cards. Thieves like gift cards because they’re virtually untraceable and easily turned into cash, Shultz says.<br><br>AARP Iowa will urge state lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session to pass a law requiring retailers to post information on how gift card scams work and how to avoid them.<br><br>“We can’t protect people from things they’re not aware of,” says Paige Yontz, AARP Iowa’s advocacy manager.<br><br>Some retailers already train employees to spot scams in action. They try to get the potential victim to slow down and think about it, Shultz says.<br><br>Sometimes scammers will keep talking to a potential target on the phone even as the person enters the store. Seeing a sign, or hearing a gentle question from an employee, could prevent a fraud from happening, he says.<br><br>“They don’t just prey on people who are gullible and naive,” Shultz says. “These are well-intentioned, educated people, but scammers deliver a message that’s so compelling that people who wouldn’t believe it are pulled in.” <br><br><b>—David Lewellen</b></p></div>
    
</div>
</p></span>
		</div>
	</div>

		<p><i>This story is provided by AARP Iowa. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank">AARP Iowa</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p>
	
</div>
</div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css">

<!-- bypass -->
<style>
a:focus, a:hover {
    text-decoration: underline;
}
h1.article-headline {
margin: 0 0 1rem;
}
</style>



<!--
<style>
.Enhancement-item .Figure {
margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body ul {
    margin-bottom: 24px;
}
.RichTextArticleBody-body p{
    margin: 12px 0;
}
.RichTextModule-items {
   clear: both;
    display: table;
    width: 100%;
    margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.VideoEnhancement>* {
    color: var(--primaryTextColor);
    font-size: 13px;
    font-weight: 400;
    line-height: 1.4;
    font-style: italic;
    background: #f0efed
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement>* {
        font-size:14px;
        font-weight: 400;
        line-height: 1.47
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-title {
    padding: 20px
}

@media only screen and (min-width: 768px) {
    .VideoEnhancement-title {
        padding:30px
    }
}

.VideoEnhancement-player>* {
    position: relative;
    width: 100%;
    height: 0;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}

.VideoEnhancement iframe {
    border: 0;
    position: absolute;
    top: 0;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%
}
[data-video-player] {
    display: block;
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
    height: 0;
    margin: 0 auto;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%;
}

[data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] {
    padding-bottom: 56.25%
}
</style>
--></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750">
<a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" 
	href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" 
	alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" 
	src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a>
</div></div></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default-->
<!-- module_RHS - AARP Events -->

<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
	<header>
		<div class="pull-right">
			<a href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">
				<img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" />
			</a>
		</div>
		<h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
		<h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Des Moines</h2>
	</header>
	<div class="wrap">
		<div class="ar-listing snippet">
			<ul class="list">
				<li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-virtual-museum-tours-virtual-ia-121024-3mnw8f5mwrj.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-VIRTUAL-MUSEUM-TOURS">Virtual Museum Tours</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 10, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1">

										<h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3>
					
					<h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-tech-meetup-virtual-ia-121724-49n4bx7hwxg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-TECH-MEETUP">Intro to Tech: Meetup</a></h2>
					<p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00&nbsp;p.m. CT</p>
					<p class="venue">Zoom</p>
					<p class="loc">Online Event</p>
					
				</li>			</ul>

			<p><a class="link-red" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p>
	
		</div>
	</div>
</div>


<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;">
	<img class="img-responsive image" 
		title="image of two AARP membership cards"
		alt="image of two AARP membership cards" 
		src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png">
	<div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div>
	<ul class="list">
		<li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li>
		<li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li>
		<li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li>
		<li>FREE second membership</li>
	</ul>
	<div class="action">
		<a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Join AARP</a>
		<div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-DESMOINES-IA">Renew</a> or 
			<a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div>
	</div>
</div>
<style>
.membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;}
.membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; }
</style>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper">
                    
                    <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250">
                        
                         
                            <script type="text/javascript">
                                if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){
                                  AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'});
                                }
                            </script>
                         
                    </div>
                </div>
<div class="module-spacer text-center">
<div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true">
	<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>


<div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer">
<header>
<h2>Contact AARP <br />in Des Moines</h2>
</header>
<div class="wrap">

<div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer">
<ul class="list-unstyled">
<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li>

<li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-DESMOINES-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li>

</ul>
</div>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a>
&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a>

</div>
</div>

 
</div></div>
	<div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div>
	<div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div>
</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	</div>
<div class="row oneColumnLayout">
	<div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar -->
	<script type="text/javascript">
		jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() {
			window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href');
		});
	</script>
</div>
</div>
'
$scripts_for_layout = '<title>Don't Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams</title>
<meta name="page_title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/>
<meta content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a" name="description"/>
<meta content="Don, t, Be, Fooled, by, Gift, Card, Scams" name="keywords"/>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/iowa/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/dont-be-fooled-by-gift-card-scams-ia-2023-12-31.html"/>
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/>
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta name="twitter:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
<meta property="og:type" content="article"/>
<meta property="og:title" content="Don&#039;t Be Fooled by Gift Card Scams"/>
<meta property="og:description" content="The phone rings and the caller claims that your utilities will be shut off if you don’t immediately pay up—using a gift card. Or he says you’ve won a"/>
<meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/423c11f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1183x761+0+63/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2F79%2Fdf%2Fdec43e7141506baa09ca2bf3a458%2Fistock-495391340.jpg"/>
        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }'
$title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP'
$asset_version = '230831'
$min = true
$nowrapper = false
$css = '        :root {
        --primaryColor: #ff1e3c;
        --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a;
        --linkTextColor: #1f66bd;
        --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd;
        --secondaryTextColor: #000000;
        --secondaryColor2: #000000;
        --secondaryColor3: #000000;
        --secondaryColor4: #000000;
        --secondaryColor5: #000000;
        --black: #000000;
        --white: #ffffff;
        --grey: #f0efed;
        --gridGutters: 30px;
        --modulePadding: 60px;
        --pageWidth: 86.11%;
        --maxPageWidth: 1240px;
        --horizontalAlignment: center;
        --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif;
        --headerBackgroundColor:#000000;
        --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF;
        --headerHeight:50px;
        --footerbackgroundColor:#000000;
        --footerTextColor:#918883;
        }'
$highlighting = ''
$location = '<a href="/des-moines-ia/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Des Moines, IA</a>'
$no_header = false
$header_title = '<a href="/des-moines-ia/happenings/">News Feed</a>'
$header_subtitle = ''
$isPR = false
$navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse">
	<div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div>
	<ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true">
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li>
		<li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/des-moines-ia/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li>
		<li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more">
			<span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span>
			<ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu">
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li>
				<!--
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li>
				<li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/des-moines-ia/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li>
				-->
			</ul>
		</li>
		
	</ul>
</nav>'
$header_custom = ''
$breadcrumbs = array(
	(int) 0 => array(
		'title' => 'News Feed',
		'slug' => 'happenings'
	)
)
$row = array(
	'title' => 'Back to News Feed',
	'slug' => 'happenings'
)
$i = (int) 0
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244
include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244
View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971
View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933
View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546
View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481
Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963
AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136
BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81
ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ??
Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118