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Gift Card Phone Scam: How Retail Employees Get Scammed (Dollar Tree Case)

Updated: January 2026

This isn't a website but a sophisticated phone fraud targeting retail employees (confirmed Dollar Tree case: manager scammed $500).

Scammers call impersonating IT/help desk/corporate, reference real technical issues the store experienced, pressure manager to load a gift card 'to test' register functionality, then ask for the card numbers. Once activated and number provided, scammer disappears. Employee/manager is typically fired. Dollar Tree has explicit training and register prompts to prevent this—but sophisticated scammers still succeed.

Key Findings

What It Is

Unsolicited call to store claiming to be from corporate IT

Main Risk

Unsolicited call from anyone claiming corporate authority

Best Action

If receive suspicious call about gift cards: ask for 'code of the day'

The Pattern

→Unsolicited call to store claiming to be from corporate IT
→References real store issues (down registers, complaints manager knows about)
→Creates urgency around technical problems or customer complaints
→Asks to load a gift card 'to test' if register works properly
→May start with small amount to build trust
→Requests the gift card number after it's activated
→May threaten manager's job if they don't comply
→Disappears once card numbers are provided
→Card is immediately drained or resold

Red Flags

Warning: Unsolicited call from anyone claiming corporate authority
Warning: Pressure to load gift cards over phone
Warning: Request for activated gift card numbers
Warning: Refusal to wait or use official verification procedures
Warning: Caller doesn't know 'code of the day' (store security verification)
Warning: No official company communication confirming the request
Warning: Urgency language ('must do this now' or 'immediate action')
Warning: Unknown phone number or Google Voice number
Warning: Caller becomes hostile if questioned
Warning: Register system has prompts asking 'are you on the phone?'—scammers pressure through this

What To Do

1If receive suspicious call about gift cards: ask for 'code of the day'
2If caller can't provide it: HANG UP IMMEDIATELY—it's 100% a scam
3Never process gift card transactions over phone
4Call your store manager/corporate directly (use official directory, not caller-provided number)
5Never load gift cards based on phone instructions alone
6Always require written authorization for any unusual request
7Document the call: date, time, number, what they said
8Report to corporate security immediately
9Report to local law enforcement
10Report to FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov

What NOT To Do

✕Don't load gift cards based on unsolicited calls
✕Don't provide gift card numbers to anyone over phone
✕Don't trust callers who claim corporate authority
✕Don't ignore register prompts asking if you're on phone
✕Don't skip store training about gift card fraud
✕Don't feel pressured by threats or urgency
✕Don't assume professional-sounding caller is legitimate
✕Don't blame yourself if you fall for it (scammers are very sophisticated)

Copy-Paste Script

Received call claiming corporate IT asking me to load $[amount] gift card. I hung up, verified code of the day failed, reported to manager and corporate security.

FAQ

Why do scammers target retail employees with gift card scams?

Retail staff have legitimate access to load gift cards and registers. Scammers use store-specific knowledge (real technical issues, employee names) to appear credible. Once they get card numbers, the card is immediately drained. The employee is fired, store loses money, scammer profits. It's lucrative fraud with low risk to scammer.

What's the 'code of the day'?

Many major retailers use a daily verification code. If 'corporate' calls asking for gift cards but can't provide today's code, it's 100% a scam. Dollar Tree trains employees: if you're on the phone, DO NOT process gift cards. This code requirement is the strongest defense.

Will the employee get fired?

Often yes, unfortunately. Dollar Tree policy reportedly terminates both the cashier and manager on duty if gift card fraud happens. Some stores are moving toward more empathy, but this happened to one victim at DollarTree who lost her job. It's tragic but it's why this training exists.

What if my coworker falls for it?

Support them. Report immediately to corporate security. The faster reported, the better chance they can recover the card before it's drained. Cooperate fully with investigation. Some companies are more forgiving if reported quickly vs. if discovered days later.

How do scammers know about store-specific issues?

They listen for general patterns all retail stores experience (register problems, customer complaints) OR they've already scammed other stores and know common pain points. Sometimes they research on social media. The more you talk to caller, the more info they gather.

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