Quick answer
Anyone who asks you to pay with a gift card is running a scam. The US Federal Trade Commission says no real business or government agency will tell you to buy a gift card to pay them. Gift cards are for gifts. If you already shared a code, contact the brand that issued the card right away, keep the card and receipt, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Who do gift card scammers pretend to be?
The 7 scripts the FTC lists most often, checked on 21 Oct 2026.
| Scammer pretends to be | What they say |
|---|---|
| A government agency (IRS, Social Security, FTC) | You owe taxes or a fine and must pay now |
| Tech support (Microsoft, Apple) | Your computer has a problem; pay to fix it |
| A friend or relative | An emergency, sometimes with a cloned voice |
| A prize or sweepstakes organiser | Pay a fee to collect your winnings |
| Your utility company | Pay now or your service is cut off |
| A romantic interest from a dating site | Asks for money, paid in gift cards |
| A buyer who overpaid by cheque | Send back the difference on a gift card |
Prices checked on
What do gift card scammers ask for?
They ask for speed, a specific card and the numbers on it. The FTC lists four signs:
- pressure to pay right now;
- instructions to buy a particular brand, often Google Play, Apple or Amazon, sometimes at a named store;
- a request for the card number and PIN, or a photo of the card;
- a demand to keep it secret or stay on the phone while you buy.
Any one of these is enough to stop.
Why do scammers want gift cards?
Because a code is spendable value. Whoever has the code and PIN can redeem it in minutes, and the payment cannot be reversed like a bank transfer. Valve says scams are the reason it is ending Steam gift cards in retail stores. It expects all retailers to be out of stock by the end of 2026. Paying for the card in crypto changes nothing: once the code is shared, the value is gone.
I already gave someone a gift card code. What now?
Act right away, however long ago it happened. The FTC gives three steps:
- Contact the company that issued the card (Amazon, Apple, Google Play, Steam…) through its official website. Some can freeze remaining funds or refund you.
- Keep the card and the receipt. They hold the details the issuer needs.
- Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov if you are in the US, or to your national fraud office.
Ignore anyone who offers to recover the money for a fee: that is a second scam.
How do I spot a fake gift card seller?
Check four things before you pay any shop. Price: a card far below face value is a warning. On 14 Oct 2026 real sellers ranged from −3% to +11% versus face value, per our fee index. Payment: pay only an invoice in your account, never an address sent by chat. Support: look for a published email and reply time. Refunds: the shop should say what happens if the code never arrives.
How does Gifts With Crypto protect buyers?
Your code appears only in My cards, inside your account. We never ask for your code, your wallet recovery phrase or your password. We never contact you to request a payment: the only valid address is the one on your invoice, valid 30 minutes. If we cannot deliver a paid order, we refund the full order amount in the coin you paid. Questions go to [email protected], with a reply within 24 hours.
Gift card scam questions
Can the IRS or the police ask me to pay with gift cards?
No. No real government agency or business will ask to be paid in gift cards, according to the FTC. Hang up and contact the agency through its official website.
Is buying a gift card with crypto a scam?
No. Buying a gift card as a gift or for your own account is a normal purchase. The scam is someone else asking you to buy a card and send them the code. See how it works.
Can I get my money back after a gift card scam?
Sometimes. Contact the card's issuer right away: some can freeze unspent funds. Keep the card and receipt, and report the scam to the FTC or your national fraud office.
Is it safe to send a photo of a gift card?
No. A photo shows the same code and PIN as the card itself. Share a code only with the person it is a gift for, privately. See how to gift a card.
Will Gifts With Crypto ever ask for my code?
Only if you email us about your own order that does not redeem, and you choose to share it. We never ask for recovery phrases, private keys or passwords. See contact.
Sources (checked 21 Oct 2026) (2)
- Avoiding and Reporting Gift Card Scams — Federal Trade Commission (2026-10-21)
- Steam Support: Steam Wallet (Can I purchase Steam Gift Cards at retailers?) — Valve (2026-10-21)