Starting a new job is a moment of optimism, new faces, new challenges, and a fresh opportunity to shine. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are capitalizing on this excitement with a deceptive scam that’s targeting the newest members of your workforce. The “gift card” scam is laser-focused on new hires who are still learning the ropes and eager to impress. As a business leader, it’s critical to understand how this scam works and how you can prevent your team from falling victim. With a new job, comes a new gift card scam targeting new hires. The good news? With the right employee education and Cybersecurity solutions in place, you can stop these threats before they start.
Inside the Scam: How It Works
The fraudsters behind this scheme are skilled at impersonation. The result? Financial loss, shaken confidence, and a preventable blow to team morale.
Here’s their playbook:
They do their homework. Scammers mine publicly available data, like LinkedIn profiles or your company website, to identify new hires and leadership roles.
They reach out via text, email, or chat. Pretending to be a CEO or department head, they send a seemingly urgent message, typically via text, asking the new employee to purchase gift cards for things like customer appreciation gifts or employee rewards.
They create urgency. They’ll often promise reimbursement and insist on immediate action to avoid delays or “missed opportunities.”
The new hire complies. Wanting to be helpful in their new job and unaware of internal protocols, they buy the gift cards and send the codes, only to realize later they’ve been scammed
Why New Hires Are Easy Targets
New employees are particularly vulnerable for several reasons:
They don’t know what’s normal. Without established communication norms, they may not question an odd request.
They haven’t met key players. If they’ve never spoken to the CEO, how would they know it’s not the CEO texting?
They want to do well. Scammers exploit that desire with urgency and flattery.
They’re unfamiliar with company policy. They may not know how financial requests are supposed to be handled
How to Stop the Scam Before It Starts
Protecting your team requires more than a one-time warning it calls for a proactive, layered approach and defense.
Here’s some guidelines to get you started:
- Cybersecurity from Day One
- Onboarding Training: Embed scam awareness in your onboarding. Teach new hires how to spot social engineering tactics like fake authority and urgency.
- Advanced Filtering Tools: Deploy email filters that catch spoofed or suspicious messages before they reach your employees.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enforce MFA across all platforms to block access even if credentials are compromised.
- Clear Communication and Policy
- Define the Rules: Make it crystal clear that the executives will never request gift card purchases or financial transactions via text or personal email.
- Encourage Verification: Train employees to verify unexpected requests by contacting the person through known, official channels.
- Report Quickly: Provide an easy, well-publicized process for reporting suspicious activity. Encourage hesitation over speed.
- Strategic IT Oversight with Virtual CIO Services
- Big Picture Thinking: A Virtual CIO (vCIO) can help identify gaps in your current cybersecurity strategy and build a roadmap tailored to your business.
- Expert Support: Outsourcing IT means access to cutting-edge tools and experienced professionals who stay ahead of emerging threats.
- Success Stories: Many organizations have avoided major breaches thanks to proactive planning and consistent oversight from vCIO-led teams.
The Real Priority: Protecting People
At its core, this gift card scam targeting new hires is a people issue. A truly customer-centric IT approach is about protecting your employees, not just your infrastructure. By investing in smart, proactive cybersecurity strategies, you empower your team to work confidently and securely from day one. So don’t wait for a cautionary tale to hit your inbox. Prepare today to secure your company, protect your employees, and build an environment where everyone, especially your newest hires, can thrive.
