Salem, Oregon – Attorney General Dan Rayfield is part of a national public service announcement campaign to alert people about the growing threat of gift card fraud, which is an issue that often gets worse around the holidays.
In a press release from late December, AG Rayfield said that the effort brings together attorneys general from 13 other states and is funded by the Gift Card Fraud Prevention Alliance. This shows that there is a coordinated effort to stop a scam that costs Americans millions of dollars every year.
The campaign started just as a lot of Americans usually start to use the gift cards they got over the holidays, which is a time when scammers are very active. Consumer protection officials say that scammers often take advantage of the excitement and rush that comes with using gift cards to make it easier to press victims into making fast decisions.
Rayfield said that gift cards themselves aren’t dangerous, but the way scammers trick people is. He said that these plans generally depend on fear, secrecy, and expectations for quick response. He noted that the purpose of the campaign is to help people spot warning flags early, keep their money safe, and know where to go if anything doesn’t feel right.
From December 26, 2025, to January 31, 2026, the PSAs will air, sending a consistent message from all the states that took part. They outline common scam tactics, explain how legitimate businesses and government agencies never request payment through gift cards, and encourage anyone who suspects fraud to report it right away.
People who run gift card scams sometimes pretend to be people you trust, such government officials, utility companies, or even family members. People who are victims are forced to buy gift cards and distribute the codes, which typically leads to a quick loss of money that can be hard to get back.
Lisa LaBruno, the executive director of the group that is coordinating the coalition, said that the effort is meant to both alert criminals and provide customers more leverage. She said that to fight gift card theft, everyone—government, business, and the public—needs to work together.
In Oregon, residents who see or fall for these scams are asked to notify the Consumer Protection Division of the Department of Justice about it. Officials claim that every report helps them find patterns, make investigations more effective, and break up the networks that run these scams.
