Gift card scams: how they work, and what to do if you paid with a gift card
Gift cards are for gifts, not payments!
Someone told you to buy gift cards and give them the numbers? That’s a scam, every time. No real company, utility or government agency asks you to pay with a gift card.
Gift card scams start with a call, text, email, pop-up or social media message. The story changes, but the ending is the same: buy gift cards, then read the numbers on the back. If you’ve already done it, don’t be embarrassed. Act fast, because you may be able to get some money back.
The one rule to remember
Gift cards are for gifts, not payments. If anyone asks you to pay with a gift card, or to read them the numbers on the back, hang up. It’s a scam.
What a gift card scam sounds like
These examples are written in the style the FTC and AARP describe. Names and amounts change. Never pay anyone who sends a message like this.
Fake government call
“This is the Social Security Administration. Your number was used in a crime. To protect your benefits, buy $500 in gift cards and read me the numbers.”
Fake tech support
“Your computer has a virus. Our technician can fix it today for $299, paid with Google Play cards.”
Family emergency
“Grandma, it’s me. I’m in trouble and need help fast. Please get Apple gift cards and don’t tell Mom.”
Utility shutoff
“Your power will be shut off in one hour for an unpaid bill. Pay now with gift cards from the nearest store.”
Prize or sweepstakes
“Congratulations, you won $50,000! To release your prize, pay the $400 processing fee with gift cards.”
A boss or friend needs a favor
“I’m stuck in a meeting. Can you buy five $100 gift cards for a client and text me photos of the backs? I’ll pay you back.”
Other versions include a romance partner you’ve never met in person who needs money, and a check for more than you expected, with a request to send back the difference on gift cards. The check will turn out to be fake.
7 warning signs of a gift card scam
Anyone tells you to pay with a gift card.
The FTC says no real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay them. That alone means it’s a scam.
They want the numbers on the back, or a photo of the card.
The card number and PIN let a scammer spend the money right away, even though you still have the card in your hand.
It’s urgent.
Scammers say something terrible will happen unless you pay right now, so you don’t have time to think or talk to someone.
They tell you which card and which store.
They may name Apple, Google Play, Target or eBay cards, send you to a store like Walmart, Target, CVS or Walgreens, or tell you to visit several stores so cashiers don’t get suspicious.
They stay on the phone while you shop.
The FTC says a scammer may stay on the line while you buy and load the cards. If this happens, hang up.
They tell you to keep it secret.
A real grandchild, bank or agency won’t ask you to hide a payment from family or the cashier.
They promise to pay you back later.
A "boss," friend or relative who asks you to buy cards now and promises to repay you is a common trick, AARP warns. Call the person yourself on a number you know.
Already paid with a gift card? Do this now
- Stop. Don’t buy any more cards, and don’t answer if they call back.
- Call the gift card company right away, no matter how long ago it happened. Tell them it was a scam and ask for your money back. If money is still on the card, some companies, like Apple and Google, may be able to freeze it.
- Keep the card and the store receipt. Take a photo of both. The numbers help the company and the police.
- Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. AARP also suggests reporting it to your local police and to the FBI at ic3.gov.
- Get free support. Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 1-877-908-3360. If you are 60 or older, you can also call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311.
- Watch for a second scam. Anyone who calls offering to get your money back for a fee is a scammer. See our guide to recovery scams.
Gift card company phone numbers
From the FTC’s list of gift card companies, checked October 17, 2026. If your card isn’t listed, look for a phone number on the back of the card or on the company’s official website.
| Gift card | How to report it |
|---|---|
| Amazon | Call 1-888-280-4331 |
| American Express | Call 1-877-297-4438 |
| Apple or iTunes | Call 1-800-275-2273 and say "gift card" to reach a person |
| Best Buy | Call 1-888-237-8289 |
| eBay | Chat with eBay customer support, or ask for a call back |
| Google Play | Report it to Google online, on Google’s gift card help pages |
| MoneyPak | Submit a fraud claim on the MoneyPak website |
| ReloadIt | Call 1-888-633-9434 |
| Sephora | Call 1-877-737-4672 |
| Steam | Report it through Steam Support |
| Target | Call 1-800-544-2943 |
| Vanilla | Call 1-833-322-6760 |
| Visa | Call 1-800-847-2911 |
| Walmart | Call 1-888-537-5503 |
Buying gift cards as real gifts? Avoid “drained” cards
- Buy from stores you know, or straight from the company that issues the card. Skip online auction sites.
- Check the package. Make sure the stickers aren’t torn and the PIN isn’t showing or scratched. If it looks tampered with, pick another card and show the cashier.
- Keep the receipt and a photo of the card until the gift is used.
- Make sure every card is scanned at the register when you buy several.
Free tools to check before you pay
- Scam Text and Email Checker: paste a message that asks for gift cards and see the warning signs.
- Phone Number Checker: see if a caller’s number is faked or overseas.
- Is This Website Legit?: check a store before you buy online.
- Scam or Real? quiz: practice spotting scams, with a printable version for groups.
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Questions people ask
Is it a scam if someone asks me to pay with gift cards?
Yes, every time. The FTC says only scammers tell you to buy a gift card and give them the numbers off the back. No real business, utility company or government agency will ask you to pay that way.
Can I get my money back after a gift card scam?
Sometimes. Call the company that issued the card right away, no matter how long ago it happened, and ask for your money back. If the money is still on an Apple or Google Play card, the company may be able to freeze it. Keep the card and your receipt, because they help.
Why do scammers want gift cards?
Gift cards work like cash. Once a scammer has the card number and PIN, they can spend or sell the money quickly, and it is hard to trace or get back.
The IRS or Social Security says I owe money and must pay with gift cards. Is that real?
No. Government agencies won’t contact you to demand immediate payment, and they never demand payment by gift card. Hang up, and call the agency yourself using a number from its official website.
Can a scammer use my gift card if I still have the card?
Yes. The card number and PIN on the back are all they need. Never read them to anyone, and never send a photo of the back of a card.
What is gift card draining?
Criminals steal cards from store racks, copy the numbers, and put them back. When someone buys and loads the card, they quickly spend the money. AARP and the Department of Homeland Security advise checking that the package and PIN cover aren’t torn, scratched or wrinkled, and keeping your receipt.
How much money do people lose to gift card scams?
AARP reports that, according to the FTC, at least $212 million was stolen through gift card scams in 2024, and the real total is likely much higher because many people don’t report it.
Where can I get free help?
Call the free AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 1-877-908-3360. If you are 60 or older, the National Elder Fraud Hotline is 1-833-372-8311. Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Sources
- FTC: Avoiding and Reporting Gift Card Scams (includes the gift card company contact list)
- AARP: Gift Card Scams: How to Avoid Them and Protect Yourself
- AARP: Protect Yourself and Loved Ones from Gift Card Payment Scams
- Report a scam to the FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov
Last updated: October 17, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.