Gift Card Scams - Be Aware, Be Proactive! How Gift Card Scams Work Gift card scams start with a call, text, email, or social media message. Scammers will say almost anything to get you to buy gift cards — like Google Play, Apple, or Amazon cards — and hand over the card number and PIN codes. Here are some common tactics scammers use in gift card scams: 🛑Scammers will say it’s urgent. They will say to pay them right away or something terrible will happen. They don’t want you to have time to think about what they’re saying or talk to someone you trust. Slow down. Don’t pay. It’s a scam. 🛑Scammers will tell you which gift card to buy (and where). They might ask you to put money on gift cards from eBay, Google Play, Target, or Apple. They might send you to stores like Walmart, Target, CVS, or Walgreens. The scammer might stay on the phone with you while you load money onto the card. If this happens, hang up. It’s a scam. 🛑Scammers will ask you for the gift card number and PIN. The card number and PIN on the back of the card let the scammer get the money you loaded onto the card — even if you still have the card itself. Slow down. Don’t give them those numbers or send them a photo of the card. It’s a scam. If you bought a gift card and gave someone the numbers off the back of the card, that’s a scam. Use your gift card and gift card store receipt for these next steps: ✅Report the gift card scam to the gift card company right away. No matter how long ago the scam happened, report it. Use the How To Contact Gift Card Companies list below. ✅Ask for your money back. Some companies are helping stop gift card scams and might give your money back. It’s worth asking. ✅Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Every report makes a difference.