GJPD warns of gift card scam: photo + PIN requests and what to do

In an alert posted July 2, 2026, the Grand Junction Police Department warned residents about a gift card scam in which criminals impersonate government agencies, law enforcement, or other legitimate businesses and demand payment using gift cards.

GJPD says the key step scammers use after you buy the cards is what they ask for next: a photo of the gift card plus the PIN number on the back. Once the scammers receive that card information, GJPD says they immediately drain the funds—leaving victims with little or no chance of recovering their money. In some cases, GJPD says victims have lost several thousand dollars.

How the scam is operating

According to the GJPD alert, the process typically follows this pattern:

• Impersonation: The caller or message claims to be from a government agency, law enforcement, or another legitimate business.
• Gift card purchase: The victim is instructed to purchase gift cards.
• Card + PIN photo request: The scammer then tells the victim to provide a photo of the gift card along with the PIN number on the back.
• Funds drained: After scammers receive the card information, GJPD says they immediately drain the funds.

Why gift card payments are a red flag

The Federal Trade Commission says gift card scams are designed to push people into buying gift cards and handing over the card number and PIN codes. The FTC emphasizes that you shouldn’t provide those numbers or send a photo of the card in response to a request.

The FTC also notes that government agencies generally won’t demand immediate payment through gift cards—even when scammers claim you owe taxes or a fine.

What to do if you’re contacted

GJPD’s resident-facing tips focus on slowing down and verifying independently:

• Verify the source: If a message claims to be from a government agency, law enforcement, or a business, contact the organization directly using a trusted phone number or an official website you look up yourself.
• Protect sensitive information: Don’t share sensitive details (like your Social Security number, banking information, passwords, or account credentials) unless you’ve independently verified who you’re speaking with.
• Never pay with gift cards: GJPD says no legitimate government agency, law enforcement agency, or reputable business will demand payment using gift cards.
• Trust urgency tactics less: GJPD says scammers often create urgency or fear to get you to act quickly—so slow down, ask questions, and verify the request.

If you already shared details or bought cards

GJPD says anyone who believes they may have been the victim of a scam should contact law enforcement right away.

The FTC advises that if you bought a gift card and gave someone the numbers off the back, you should report the gift card scam to the gift card company right away and tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you’re a victim of an online or internet-enabled crime, the FBI also recommends filing a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) as soon as possible.

Quick recap: stop and verify

Residents can share the GJPD alert with family and friends—especially anyone who might be more likely to respond to “official” messages under time pressure.

Sources

• City of Grand Junction News Flash — GJPD Warns Residents of Gift Card Scam (Posted July 02, 2026)
• FTC Consumer Advice — Avoiding and Reporting Gift Card Scams
• FBI — Common Frauds and Scams