Police warn of gift-card scam emails impersonating acquaintances

The Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office (Landeskriminalamt Niedersachsen) is warning the public about a wave of fraudulent emails in which attackers pose as people known to the recipient. These messages often include the real name of a friend or contact but come from a newly created or unfamiliar email address and ask the recipient to quickly buy prepaid gift cards (for example Apple gift cards) and send photos of the scratched‑off codes.

Criminals use this tactic to bypass initial suspicion by referencing a real name while controlling the communication from a different account. The scams are effective because the request appears urgent and personal — but once the attacker has the gift‑card codes, the funds are quickly spent or laundered.

Red flags to watch for

• Sender address doesn’t match the contact’s usual email (new or misspelled domain).
• Urgent requests for gift cards, money transfers or help that pressure you to act quickly.
• Requests to send photos of scratch‑off codes or to share codes via chat/email.
• Unusual language or phrasing that doesn’t match how the person normally writes.

What to do if you get one

• Do not buy gift cards or share codes. Treat the message as suspicious until verified.
• Verify the request through a separate channel — call the person on a known number or contact them via a different app.
• Check the sender’s email address carefully for slight alterations or new domains.
• If you already paid, contact your bank or the gift‑card issuer immediately and report the fraud.
• Report the email to local police (LKA) and to consumer protection authorities; keep the original message as evidence.

For general guidance on online scams and how to protect yourself, see the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI): bsi.bund.de. Victims in Germany can also report scams to their local police station.

Discussion: Have you seen messages like this in your inbox — and how do you usually verify surprising requests from friends or family?