Payment method / imposterPhoneEmailSMS
Gift card payment demands
Last updated
Also known as: iTunes gift card scam, Google Play card payment
What it looks like
Anyone posing as government, a company, a relative, or tech support who insists you pay only with gift cards and read back the codes.
Who it targets
Broad; common wraparound tactic for many impostor scams.
Red flags
- ‘Pay only with gift cards’
- Asked to buy cards and share PIN codes
- Secrecy about the payment
What to do if you clicked, paid, or replied
- Stop — no legitimate business or agency demands gift-card payment
- If codes were shared, contact the card issuer immediately and report to FTC
Still circulating?
Standing FTC guidance; gift cards remain a top scam payment method.
Primary source: FTC Consumer Advice · None
Related sources
Educational summary only. Verify details on the source page. Report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or ic3.gov.