Gift Card Scam Awareness

Nordstrom gift cards are redeemable at Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores, Nordstrom.com and Nordstromrack.com, on the Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack apps, and at Nordstrom Locals. Nordstrom will never require you to pay specifically with a gift card. 

How Nordstrom Is Helping Prevent Fraud in Stores & Online

• Investing in safety measures with new gift card packaging. Nordstrom is continually improving gift cards and packaging to prevent tampering.
• Providing transparent fraud messaging in stores, online and on gift cards/packaging.
•  Having a team dedicated full-time to monitoring gift card activity and transactions. This team looks for potential risks, security threats and patterns. Additionally, corporate and store team members are required to complete annual compliance and fraud-awareness training.

Consumer Prevention Guidelines

• Never provide gift card details to someone you do not trust, and always verify the identity of anyone asking for card details.
• Never use Nordstrom gift cards to pay for taxes, an IRS debt, utilities, Social Security benefits, tech support, bail, ransom or to avoid arrest or deportation.
• Treat gift cards like cash. Never share the gift card number or PIN.
• Examine physical gift cards prior to purchase to ensure there are no signs of tampering.
• Only check your balance on nordstromrack.com/customer-service/nordstrom-gift-cards or by calling 1.877.283.4045.

Victim-Assisted Fraud

Victim-assisted gift card fraud typically involves a scammer contacting someone and impersonating an authority figure or loved one, then demanding a payment in the form of gift cards. The scammer may urge you to share gift card details over the phone or via email or text. Some examples:

• Family Emergency Scam: scammer will pose as a family member or acquaintance in need and will ask for money or gift cards.
• Government Agency Scam: scammer will pose as an IRS, law enforcement or Social Security Administration representative seeking payment via gift cards.
• Medical Scam: scammer will pose as an acquaintance in need of gift cards to pay medical bills.
• Public Service Scam: scammer will pose as a utility company representative seeking payment via gift cards.
• Employer/Coworker Scam: scammer will request a gift card for personal use—victim is instructed to purchase gift cards and provide card numbers and PINs.

Reporting & Additional Resources

• Tell the Federal Trade Commission about any type of scam or fraud you detect at reportfraud.ftc.gov or call toll-free: 1.877.FTC.HELP. For more information on gift card scams, visit ftc.gov/giftcards.
• Report scams or fraud to your state's attorney general (for a list of state offices, visit naag.org), to the card issuer and to the police.