How to Get Free Gift Cards & Avoid Scams

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Plus, expert tips for making money online
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It seems like there are free gift card websites everywhere online, but are any of them actually legit? We’re here to teach you the easiest ways to get gift cards without getting scammed! In this article, we'll explain exactly how to get the cards and what signs indicate you're dealing with a scam. We even spoke with finance executive Andrew Lokenauth for tips on other ways you can make money online. Read on if you're ready to put some extra money into your pockets!

Sites to Get Free Gift Cards

  1. Swagbucks
  2. Survey Junkie
  3. Eureka Surveys
  4. Shopkick
  5. Fetch
  6. Survey Pop
  7. InboxDollars
Section 1 of 5:

How to Get Free Gift Cards

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  1. There are websites all over the internet that will give you free gift cards in exchange for you taking surveys for them. While most don’t pay you directly, they do award you a certain number of points per survey that can be used in exchange for gift cards. Other sites may even pay out in cash directly! Some of these websites include: [1]
  2. 2
    Use Shopkick to earn points by scanning in-store barcodes. Shopkick is an app that lets you earn points by walking into a store, scanning product barcodes, and/or watching in-app videos. You can then redeem your earned points for gift cards. This approach may be a faster way to get gift cards since taking surveys be a bit time-consuming. [2]
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  3. 3
    Enter online giveaways to win gift cards. On social media websites like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), companies and influencers are always hosting giveaways where first, second, and third place winners win cash or gift cards. They usually require you to like the post, follow the poster, and tag a few friends, but that's not a ton of effort for the chance of getting a free gift card. To find giveaways, check out hashtags like: [3]
    • #giveaway
    • #contest
    • #sweepstakes
    • #freebie
    • #freebiefriday
  4. 4
    Watch videos on websites like PrizeRebel and InboxDollars. There are plenty of websites that let you watch videos, play games, and complete challenges in exchange for points that can be used to get gift cards. On PrizeRebel, the points are automatically added to your account, which you can then exchange for gift cards for Xbox, Kroger, Gap, and other places. Other sites to watch videos for pay include: [4]
    • Survey Junkie
    • Shopkick
    • InboxDollars
    • Swagbucks
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Section 2 of 5:

Other Ways to Get Free Stuff Online

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  1. 1
    Sign up for restaurant reward programs. Plenty of restaurants offer in-app deals that let you get free items and save money on meals. From the McDonald’s app, which has Free Fries Friday and offers free items as you rack up rewards points, to MyHop, which is IHOP’s loyalty program that offers a free stack of pancakes, you can snag a bunch of free items by simply downloading restaurant reward programs and checking out the deals. [5]
  2. 2
    Check out online marketplaces. Plenty of online marketplaces, like Facebook Marketplace and eBay, have people who are just trying to get rid of some of the stuff that they own, and many will list their items free of charge. Depending on what you’re looking for, you may be able to snag a steal by filtering out any items that cost and browsing through the free options on your favorite Marketplace. [6]
    • If you’re meeting in person to exchange the item(s), be safe. Meet in a populated public area and bring a friend with you just in case.
  3. 3
    Download grocery apps and start couponing. Before you head into the store to grab your groceries, see if they have an app. If they do, download it before you start your shopping. Stores like Walgreens, Jewel-Osco, and Kroger offer in-app deals that let you save money on groceries. It’s like the coupons you get through the mail conveniently on your phone in one place. Instead of cutting them out and packing them in your bag, download a grocery app and start couponing to save money.
  4. 4
    Enter sweepstakes and giveaways. Companies and social media influencers are always holding some sort of sweepstakes with a cool, exciting prize for the winner. Whether it’s HGTV’s dream home giveaway or a giveaway for the latest iPhone, there are plenty of opportunities for you to try your chances and potentially earn exciting free items and/or vacations. [7]
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Section 3 of 5:

Are free gift card websites a scam?

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  1. The sites we mentioned aren't, but there are definitely gift card scams. Websites like Earnably and Swagbucks let you take surveys that reward you with points that can be redeemed for gift cards. Since you’re paying with your time, these sites aren’t scams. But, there are gift card scams to be aware of, especially online. If you’re getting a pop-up that says you can win free gift cards through the click of a button or dealing with a scam call saying you need to buy a gift card, beware, as people may be trying to scam you. [8]
    • Scammers will often try to get you to pay them by making you buy gift cards and give them the code or wire them money. They’ll usually say that you have an important payment that must be made immediately, or else you’ll accrue more fees.
    • When you suspect that someone is trying to scam you by having you buy them gift cards, hang up and report them to the Federal Trade Commission immediately.
    • Remember, major government agencies and corporations will never ask you to pay via gift card or wire transfer. If they do, they’re not who they claim to be.
Section 4 of 5:

How to Avoid Scams Online

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  1. Many scammers will try to get you to send them money by saying there’s an urgent payment you need to make, like taxes or medical bills, but they’ll only let you pay it through a wire transfer or by buying gift cards for them. So, if someone you’ve never met reaches out to you saying they need you to make a payment immediately via a wire transfer or gift cards, it’s a scam! [9]
  2. 2
    Use caution when interacting with someone you’ve met online. Even if they seem like an incredible seller who will never steer you wrong and truly has your best interest at heart, be cautious when you’re dealing with someone you only know online . Scammers use social media websites, dating apps, and online marketplaces to reach out to potential targets, which can make it easier to trust them. But, it’s all an act! Don’t send them any money or make any purchases without ensuring their identity first. [10]
    • Reverse image search a seller’s profile picture and ask them to send a particular photo to make sure they’re the real deal.
    • If you’re suspicious, have the seller send a photo with their username written on a piece of paper and then holding up two fingers.
    • When meeting in person, always meet in a public place with lots of people around you. Don’t pay the seller until you’ve verified that the product works and it is in your hands.
  3. 3
    Always buy from secure, verified websites. Always use reliable, verified websites when buying from someone online. Double-check to make sure your purchase is secure by searching for “HTTPS” in the URL at the top of your screen. Check out the website’s Google reviews and Better Business Bureau rating before spending your money there to make sure that you aren’t getting scammed. [11]
  4. 4
    Never share personal information with someone you don't know. When someone reaches out to you unsolicited, whether it’s over email, the phone, on social media, or any other way, the last thing you want to do is share personal information with them. This includes your banking and credit card information, Social Security number, birthday, address, or any other personal information that can be used to scam you. [12]
    • If a scammer gets their hands on some of this information, like your credit card information or Social Security number, they can use it to drain your finances, which can be extremely detrimental for you.
  5. 5
    Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in unsolicited messages. Whether someone emails you a sob story with a donation link at the end or DMs you on Instagram trying to flirt, avoid clicking on links or opening attachments that they send unsolicited. These links or attachments can be anything, from a phishing scam to get your information to a zip bomb to crash your device. It’s best to be safe, rather than sorry! [13]
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Section 5 of 5:

Other Ways to Make Money Online

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  1. Lokenauth says being an English tutor to foreign students is one of the best ways to make money online. Search “Be an English Tutor” or “English Tutor Jobs” on Google and look for an option that pays well. You can tutor from home using a phone, iPad, or computer, and the tutoring websites usually provide you with the lessons.
  2. 2
    Sign up for freelance gig websites like Fiverr and Upwork. Lokenauth also suggests using websites like Fiverr to get paid to fulfill people’s creative needs. Sites like Fiverr and Upwork are used to contract freelance graphic designers, writers, producers, and all other types of creative people. So, if you’re looking for a way to make money online and have some creative talents, try those out!
    • Sign up for your site of choice, optimize your profile to let users know the services you’re selling, and target your niche to land your first gig.
  3. Lokenauth says that selling items or clothes that you no longer use online is another good way to make money. Whether you want to sell on Depop, eBay , Facebook Marketplace, or even just your social media accounts, you can make some good money selling items online. Just take quality photos of the items, post and advertise them, and wait to hear back.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/ways-to-get-free-stuff
      2. ↑ https://dollarsprout.com/free-gift-cards/
      3. ↑ https://dollarsprout.com/free-gift-cards/
      4. ↑ https://dollarsprout.com/free-gift-cards/
      5. ↑ https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money/best-internet-freebies/
      6. ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/ways-to-get-free-stuff
      7. ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/ways-to-get-free-stuff
      8. ↑ https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/avoiding-and-reporting-gift-card-scams#howwork
      9. ↑ https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/8767-bbb-tips-10-steps-to-avoid-scams
      1. ↑ https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/8767-bbb-tips-10-steps-to-avoid-scams
      2. ↑ https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/8767-bbb-tips-10-steps-to-avoid-scams
      3. ↑ https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/8767-bbb-tips-10-steps-to-avoid-scams
      4. ↑ https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/8767-bbb-tips-10-steps-to-avoid-scams

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