If you are a frequent traveler, you may have heard of the Amtrak $1 Gift Card Giveaway Scam. This is a fraudulent scheme that targets people who are looking for cheap deals on train tickets. The scam promises to give you an Amtrak gift card worth $100 for only $1, but in reality, it is a trap that will cost you much more. In this blog post, we will explain what the Amtrak $1 Gift Card Giveaway Scam is, how it works, and what to do if you have fallen victim to it.
What is the Amtrak $1 Gift Card Giveaway Scam?
The Amtrak $1 Gift Card Giveaway Scam is a type of phishing scam that uses social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to lure unsuspecting users. The scam posts or ads claim that you can get an Amtrak gift card for only $1 by clicking on a link or scanning a QR code.
The link or code will take you to a fake website that looks like the official Amtrak website, where you will be asked to enter your personal and payment information. However, instead of getting an Amtrak gift card, you will be enrolled in a subscription service that will charge you $49.78 every month for some useless product or service.
The scam also gives you a fake customer service number that does not work, so you will have no way of canceling the subscription or getting a refund.
How does the Amtrak $1 Gift Card Giveaway Scam work?
The Amtrak $1 Gift Card Giveaway Scam works by exploiting the trust and curiosity of social media users who are looking for travel deals. The scam uses various techniques to make the posts or ads look legitimate, such as using the Amtrak logo, fake testimonials, and countdown timers.
The scam also uses social engineering tactics to persuade users to click on the link or scan the code, such as creating a sense of urgency, scarcity, or exclusivity. For example, the scam may say that the offer is only valid for a limited time or for a certain number of people. Once the user clicks on the link or scans the code, they will be redirected to a fake website that mimics the official Amtrak website.
The website will ask them to enter their personal and payment information, such as their name, email address, phone number, credit card number, and billing address. The website will also display a small print that says that by signing up, they agree to pay $49.78 every month for a subscription service that they may not even notice. The website will then confirm their order and give them a confirmation number and a customer service number. However, the confirmation number is fake and the customer service number does not work. The user will never receive an Amtrak gift card, but they will see a charge of $49.78 on their credit card statement every month until they cancel their card or dispute the charge.
What to do if you have fallen victim to the Amtrak $1 Gift Card Giveaway Scam?
If you have fallen victim to the Amtrak $1 Gift Card Giveaway Scam, you should take immediate action to protect yourself from further losses and identity theft. Here are some steps you can take:
- Contact your bank or credit card company and report the fraudulent charge. Ask them to cancel your card and issue you a new one. You may also be able to dispute the charge and get a refund.
- Contact Amtrak and inform them of the scam. They may be able to help you verify if the website or offer was legitimate or not. You can reach them at 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) or visit their official website at https://www.amtrak.com/.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/. You can also file a complaint with your state attorney general or consumer protection agency.
- Alert your friends and family about the scam and warn them not to click on any suspicious links or codes related to Amtrak.
- Monitor your credit reports and bank statements regularly for any signs of identity theft or unauthorized transactions.
Is Your Device Infected? Run a Free Malware Scan
Slow performance, constant pop-ups, or strange behavior? These are classic signs of a malware infection. The fastest way to find out is to scan your device with Malwarebytes Free — one of the most trusted malware removal tools available.
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Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows — and it’s completely free for removing infections. It catches threats that many antivirus programs miss, including adware, browser hijackers, and trojans. Follow the steps below to scan and clean your PC in just a few minutes.
Download Malwarebytes
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows from the official source. The free version is all you need — it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.
Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for Windows 11 and 10. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium
Malwarebytes Free for WindowsScans and removes malware at no cost-
Install Malwarebytes
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the MBSetup file. If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click “Yes” to allow the installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:
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Choose where you’re installing the program — “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” — then click Next.
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Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.
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When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.
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On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.
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Enable “Scan for Rootkits”
Before scanning, turn on rootkit detection so Malwarebytes can find even the most hidden threats. Click the Settings gear icon on the left side of the screen.
In the settings menu, find “Scan for rootkits” and click the toggle so it turns blue.
Done? Click “Dashboard” in the left pane to return to the main screen.
Start the Scan
Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.
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Wait for the Scan to Finish
The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take 5 to 20 minutes depending on your computer. Feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
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Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found — malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all of them at once.
Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.
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Restart Your Computer
Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot. If Malwarebytes asks you to restart, click Yes. Once you’re logged back in, Malwarebytes has finished removing the threats it found.
That’s it — your Windows PC is now clean of trojans, adware, and other malware, and should be back to running smoothly.
If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
- Run a computer scan with ESET Online Scanner
- Ask for help in our Windows Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Mac
Malwarebytes for Mac is a free on-demand scanner that removes the malware other security software tends to miss — adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted programs included. Cleaning an infected Mac with Malwarebytes has always been completely free, and it’s our go-to recommendation. Follow the steps below to scan and clean your Mac in just a few minutes.
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Download Malwarebytes for Mac
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Mac.
Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for macOS. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes PremiumMalwarebytes Free for MacScans and removes malware at no cost -
Open the Malwarebytes setup file
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the setup file to begin the installation.
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Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The Malwarebytes for Mac Installer will guide you through a few quick screens. Click “Continue” and keep following the prompts until the installation completes.
When the installation is complete, Malwarebytes opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click “Get started“.
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Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”
Malwarebytes will ask what type of computer you’re installing it on. Click either Personal Computer or Work Computer, whichever applies.
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Start the Scan
Click the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its detection database and begin checking your Mac for malware.
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Wait for the Scan to Finish
Malwarebytes will scan your Mac for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This can take a few minutes, so feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
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Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all the threats at once.
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Restart Your Mac
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files it found. Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot — if Malwarebytes asks you to restart, allow it. Once you’re logged back in, your Mac is clean.
That’s it — your Mac is now free of adware, rogue browser extensions, and other potentially harmful software.
If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Android
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
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Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
Get Malwarebytes for AndroidOpens Google Play in a new tab.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium for AndroidMalwarebytes for AndroidScans your phone and removes malware at no cost -
Install Malwarebytes for Android on your phone.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
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Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options.
This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue.
Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step.
Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue.
Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
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Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
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Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
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Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
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Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
That’s it — your Android phone is now clean — no more malicious apps, adware, or browser redirects.
If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
- Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
- Ask for help in our Mobile Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Stay Protected: Block Ads and Malicious Sites
Now that your device is clean, keep it that way. Most infections start with a malicious ad or a fake download button — so blocking them at the source is your best defense.
We recommend AdGuard, which blocks malicious ads, phishing pages, and dangerous redirects before they can reach you.
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Conclusion
The Amtrak $1 Gift Card Giveaway Scam is a phishing scam that uses social media platforms to trick users into paying $49.78 every month for a subscription service that they did not want or need. The scam pretends to offer an Amtrak gift card for only $1, but in reality, it is a trap that will cost you much more.
If you have fallen victim to this scam, you should contact your bank or credit card company, report the scam to the authorities, and warn others about it. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
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