Preventing Scams: Target + You
How Target is Helping Prevent Fraud In Store & Online
Investing In the Target Team
Target has built a multi-layered approach to stopping fraud, including gift card scams. Our group of hundreds of cybersecurity experts enables Target to identify and mitigate fraud, proactively monitor trends and create solutions to prevent fraud before it happens. Our team also develops new technology to prevent cybercrime and fraud such as gift card scams.
When it comes to fraud, our team members are our best line of defense. To ensure they are equipped with the right information, all store and headquarters team members complete training on fraud and scams annually as part of Target's cybersecurity training. In addition, store and Guest Services team members receive regular education on current fraud trends.
Fraud Messaging In-store, Online & On Products
External Partnerships
- We partner with multiple organizations to increase consumer awareness and education on scams, and work with law enforcement and our industry peers to share best practices.
- We partner with law enforcement to help prevent criminal activity, including organized retail crime and gift card scams, from impacting other guests.
- We work with outside partners like the Retail and Hospitality Information Sharing and Analysis Center (RH-ISAC) and National Cyber Forensics Training Alliance, which bring retailers together to track, prevent and address these types of crimes.
Preventing Scams: Target + You
How You Can Prevent Fraud On Your Accounts
General Scam Prevention Tips
Account Protection Tips
- Add an extra layer of security by enabling multi-factor authentication on all your accounts. Click here to learn how to enable MA on your Target account.
- Always use a different, strong password for each of your accounts. Keep track of multiple, complicated passwords by using a password manager or vault.
- Another way to create a memorable, strong password is to use a passphrase: a series of numbers, letters and symbols that stand for an easy-to-remember line or phrase. They're more secure, and you're more likely to remember a sentence than a word. For example: Why go to thebeach when it's raining? = YGo2tBwitSr@ining?
Real-time Awareness Tips
- Look for signs that an email or text is fraudulent. Before opening links or providing information, ask yourself:
- Am I expecting this email/text?
- Do I recognize the sender's email address and is it spelled correctly?
- If this email/text references a company I shop with, does it come from the company itself?
- If you cannot confidently answer these questions, do not engage or respond.
- Other signs of a fraudulent email include misspelled words and brand names, typos or poor grammar. Before clicking any links, hover over them to see the full URL so you know where the link will take you.
- If you're not sure it's safe, don't click on it.
- Use a web browser to navigate to the brand's website on your own instead.
- Do not provide personal or payment information like your credit card number, gift card number with access code or account password over the phone if you did not initiate the call.
Target Gift Card Scam Prevention Tips
Account Protection Tips
- Do not purchase, sell or check your balance outside of Target.com.
- Only check your balance on the Target site at https://www.target.com/guest/gift-card-balance.
- Do not purchase a gift card if it appears that the packaging has been altered or manipulated. If you have questions about a gift card, ask a Target team member for assistance.
- 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.