According to the Federal Trade Commission, gift cards are now the top method of payment favored by fraudsters. Experts recommend only purchasing a gift card if you plan to give it as a gift to someone you know, such as a relative, friend, or co-worker. Here are some other tips to keep from falling victim to financial scams:

• Never provide gift card information to someone over the telephone. This includes never sending photos of gift cards to anyone.
• No legitimate agency such as the IRS, Social Security Administration, or police departments will ever request any payment via gift card. They will also never request personal or financial information over the phone, such as your full social security number, or bank account numbers.
• Never be pressured into making a financial decision immediately. Scammers often pressure victims into a hasty decision by preying on victims emotions.
• If ever in doubt about a situation, run it by a trusted relative or friend. Often, victims are too emotionally charged to think clearly about the situation.
• If you have to PAY something in order to receive a PRIZE, it’s probably a scam. Taxes, fees, and other charges are often collected by scammers before the victim will receive the “prize” or “sweepstakes” (which of course never come).