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Gift Card Scams
Scammers demand payment in gift cards (Google Play, iTunes, Amazon) because they are nearly impossible to trace or recover.
$217M
Annual losses (US)
40,000+ annually (US)
Reported victims/year
Report Now
FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
🎭 How Scammers Do It: Tactics
- ▸ Pose as IRS, Social Security, utilities, or local police demanding payment
- ▸ Instruct victim to buy specific gift cards and read numbers over the phone
- ▸ Call from spoofed numbers that appear to be government agencies
- ▸ Create urgency — arrest warrant, utility shutoff, fine escalation
- ▸ Keep victim on the phone while they purchase gift cards at the store
- ▸ Use gift card numbers to purchase online items immediately after receiving
🚩 Red Flags: Stop If You See These
⚠ Any official requesting payment in gift cards
⚠ Government agency demanding gift card payment
⚠ Utility company threatening shutoff unless you pay by gift card
⚠ Being told to stay on the phone while buying gift cards
⚠ Pressure to read gift card numbers to the caller immediately
⚠ Instructions to wrap gift cards and mail them
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself
1. Know that no legitimate government agency accepts gift cards as payment
2. No utility or service company requires gift card payment
3. Hang up immediately on any caller requesting gift cards
4. Tell the store clerk — many are trained to spot gift card scams
5. Never read gift card numbers to someone who called you
6. Real tax debt can be paid on IRS.gov — never by gift card
📋 How to Report This Scam
Report to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Also report to the gift card company — they may be able to stop the redemption.