Greg's Corner

Apple settles lawsuit over gift card scams

By Greg Collier

There’s a phrase we often use when discussing gift card scams, and that is gift cards are the currency of scammers. What we mean by that is, unless you’re presenting someone with a gift card as an actual gift, if someone asks you for payment in gift cards, you’re more than likely being scammed. However, it’s not just scammers who make money from gift card scams. The issuers of these cards make money as well.

Apple Computers were one of the pioneers in modern gift card sales. The company introduced its first gift card, the iTunes Gift Card, in 2003. Initially, it was designed for users to purchase and download music, movies, TV shows, and other digital content from the iTunes Store.

Over the years, as Apple expanded its product and service offerings, the gift cards evolved to cover a broader range of Apple services and products. The iTunes Gift Card was eventually rebranded as the Apple Gift Card to reflect its versatility across various Apple platforms.

Apple gift cards can be used to purchase not only music and movies but also apps, games, books, iCloud storage, and even hardware products like iPhones, iPads, Macs, and accessories.

Since Apple hardware can be purchased, the gift cards have become highly coveted among scammers. They’ll purchase the high-end items before selling them for a substantial profit.

According to a recent lawsuit, Apple is also allegedly making money from these scams. When an Apple gift card is purchased, Apple keeps 30% of that purchase price. Like many gift card issuers, Apple has been reluctant to assist victims who have lost money to Apple gift card scams.

That lawsuit was recently settled, although a settlement amount has yet to be disclosed. However, the settlement affects anyone who lost money to an Apple gift card scam from 2015 to July 31, 2020, and did not receive a refund from Apple.

Unless you’re actually giving someone a gift, gift cards should never be used as a form of payment to people you don’t know. No legitimate company, agency, or online seller, will ever ask for gift cards as payment. Another reason we call them the currency of the scammer is they’re virtually untraceable once the card is depleted.