Attorney General John M. Formella issues a consumer alert warning New Hampshire residents of multiple recent reports of scammers impersonating government officials and political leaders to obtain gift cards. Each known instance involved a scammer impersonating a highly visible and active individual within their organization.

In one case, scammers posed as a former marketing director of a state entity and contacted several state employees via text message. In another instance, scammers impersonated a former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, who is now the Chair of a county political organization, and sent emails to members of that organization. In both scenarios, the fraudulent communications via text and/or email requested that recipients purchase gift cards for clients or constituents.

Attorney General Formella offers the following tips to avoid falling victim to this scam:

1. Be suspicious if a known co-worker or acquaintance contacts you using an unfamiliar phone number or email address. Never assume that previously unknown contact information (e-mail, telephone, etc.) provided in correspondence sent to you is legitimate if it is not already known to you.
2. Use known and trusted contact information to reach out to the individual and confirm that they are not responsible for the suspicious request.
3. Assume that any request to purchase gift cards is a scam. This is a tactic widely used by scammers.
4. Never provide personal identifying information, financial information, or send money to someone using a phone or email address that is unfamiliar to you. Assume that any such request is a scam.

If you or someone you know has fallen victim to this or another scam, immediately report it to your local police department and the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau of the Attorney General’s Office. Complaints can be made by calling the Consumer Hotline at (603) 271-3641 or e-mail DOJ-CPB@doj.nh.gov.