Gift Cards Scams - The Home Depot
Protect Yourself: Gift Card Scams Are on the Rise
Gift card scams are a serious issue for major retailers and their customers. We’ve put together information highlighting how to identify and report the most common gift card scams.
The number one tip to remember is that no legitimate transaction will ever require you to pay specifically with gift cards. The Home Depot gift cards purchased in Canada can only be used at The Home Depot Canada stores or on homedepot.ca. The Home Depot gift cards cannot be used to purchase other prepaid or specialty gift cards. Government agencies (CRA, Service Canada, RCMP, local police departments, the Treasury Board, CSIS, etc.) will not accept any gift cards as payment and will not ask you to purchase gift cards for any reason.
Other businesses do not accept payments in the form of The Home Depot gift cards. For example, you should never be asked to pay utility bills, bail, or debt collection with The Home Depot gift cards. Any request asking for gift cards as payment is a scam.
The Home Depot Gift Cards are Great For:
New Home Purchases
Thank You's
Personal Use
Holiday Gifts
Birthday Presents
Project Budgeting
Never Give Gift Card Numbers Over the Phone or in an Email to a Stranger
Common Gift Card Scams
Be wary of any payment requests through unexpected phone calls or unsolicited emails.
Government Imposter Scams
Scammers pretend to be representatives from the CRA or other governmental agency and demand payment for a debt. Sometimes the scammer threatens arrest, deportation, or the loss of a home or car for nonpayment.
In another variation of the government imposter scam, the victim is told to purchase gift cards as vouchers to protect their assets while law enforcement investigates a crime supposedly linked to the victim. The scammers will instruct victims to purchase one or more gift cards and provide the gift card numbers and PINs over the phone.
Family Emergency Scams
Scammers will call and say a loved one is in trouble or hurt. The scammer instructs the victim to purchase gift cards and give the gift card numbers to the scammer over the phone to help the family member.
There is always a sense of urgency, and scammers will often impersonate the family member. Some scammers claim the family member will convert the gift cards into cash rather than use the gift cards directly.
Tech Support Scams
Scammers use online ads or phone calls to convince victims that their computer requires tech support for viruses or other problems. Scammers often impersonate representatives from well-known tech companies. They may request remote access to the computer to find personal and financial information. The scam may include a request for gift cards as payment for their ‘services” or to protect a victim’s financial assets.
Do not respond to tech support offers that you did not initiate and never give remote access to your computer in response to an unsolicited request. Legitimate tech support representatives do not initiate contact via phone or pop-up ad and will never ask you to purchase gift cards for any reason.
Mystery Shopper Scams
Scammers send a cheque and letter to victims and inform them that they can make money as a “mystery shopper” for a retail store. They try to get victims to deposit a fake cheque to buy items and gift cards at a store.
The fake cheque bounces after the victim has sent gift cards and merchandise to the scammer. The scammer may also use this tactic to attempt to get personal information from the victim.
Phishing Scams
Phishing scams are ones in which the scammer spoofs a local phone number or known business email to trick a victim into revealing personal information or sending gift cards. Scammers may ask a potential victim to verify their account information or create a story for why the account information is needed.
Some entice victims by saying they have won a contest, grant, or some type of rewards they can only claim once information is verified. Emails or texts often look legitimate, and phone calls claims to be from legitimate sources. Remember, a financial institution will not ask you for your account information over the phone or through email or text and you cannot win a contest you did not enter.
Job Scams
Scammers pose as a company or individual advertising a job opportunity. Often, a victim is sent a cheque to deposit with instructions to use the funds to purchase gift cards or send a portion of the money to a third party. The cheque will bounce and the victim is left responsible for the transactions.
Associates of The Home Depot will always use email addresses with the domain homedepot.com to communicate with job seekers. If someone claims to be an associate at The Home Depot but is emailing from an email address that does not end in homedepot.com, the contact is likely a scam.
Romance Scams
Romance scams typically originate on dating sites or social media websites. The scammers attempt to gain the trust of their victims by forming a friendship or claiming they have fallen in love very quickly. The scammers then ask for gift cards they claim are needed for an emergency or for a visit to the victim. If someone you have not met in person is asking you for money, do not send them gift cards.
Remember: No legitimate transactions will require you to pay with gift cards. Some scammers may try to make the interaction seem more legitimate by claiming they plan to convert the gift cards into cash rather than use the gift cards funds directly.
Business Email Compromise Scams
Scammers may pose as an executive or business partner of a company to send a request for gift cards to an employee of the company. The scammer claims gift cards are urgently needed for the company holiday party or a surprise bonus.
These scams are typically conducted via email and the scammers will often use an email address similar to the real one used by a company executive. If a boss or business partner is requesting for you to make a gift card purchase, reach out in person or by phone to confirm the request is valid.
Tips to Avoid Scams
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A government agency, court system, bail bondsman, the RCMP, or police department will never accept payment in the form of a gift card, especially over the phone.
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If you get a call from a stranger who says that a loved one is in trouble and they ask you to provide gift card numbers to help them, hang up and contact your loved one directly.
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Don’t always trust your caller ID. Scammers can manipulate a caller ID to look like a legitimate company or government agency.
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Don’t purchase a gift card if it appears that the packaging has been damaged, altered, or manipulated, or if the PIN is visible. If you have questions about a gift card, ask someone who works at the store.
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Websites and email can be faked – look for outdated company logos or a lack of privacy information. Legitimate emails from Associates of The Home Depot will come from the email domain homedepot.com.
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Don’t purchase, sell, or check your balance on online gift card marketplaces outside of homedepot.com.
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Don’t respond to online ads or websites offering gift cards. These are often scams.
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Don’t provide personal information or gift card numbers over the phone for an unsolicited request.
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Don’t act immediately if you receive a call or email requesting gift cards or money, even if the request seems to be from someone you know. If something doesn’t seem right, as a trusted family member or friend for advice.
How to Report Fraud or a Scam
If you think you've been the victim of a gift card scam, report it to the Fraud Reporting System (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre) or call toll-free at or the Competition Bureau using the online complaint form.
If the scam took place in The Home Depot stores or involved The Home Depot gift cards, please call and report the scam to us at 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337).
If your gift card balance has been depleted or deactivated and you did not spend the funds, contact Customer Care at 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337).