How Scammers Tell You to Pay (FTC Video Guide)

Scammers tell many different stories, but they almost always want to be paid in a way that is fast, hard to trace, and hard to reverse. This FTC video explains the payment methods they push and why. If you learn to spot the payment request, you can spot the scam, no matter what story comes with it.

From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · Part of our Online Safety Video Library

What the video shows

An FTC staff member explains that scammers want your money quickly and in a way that makes it hard for you to get it back. The video focuses on two common requests: wiring money and loading money onto gift cards or reload cards.

It describes how the caller may stay on the phone while you go to the store, then ask for the card numbers so they can take the money right away. The message at the end is simple: if anyone says you must pay this way, it is a scam.

Key takeaways

• Wiring money is like sending cash. Once it is gone, it is almost never recovered.
• Gift cards and reload cards are for gifts, not for paying bills, fines, or fees.
• A caller who stays on the line while you shop is controlling you. Hang up.
• The same warning applies to newer methods, such as cryptocurrency, payment apps sent to strangers, or cash handed to a courier.
• No real government agency or business requires payment this way.

If someone asks you to pay this way

1. Do not buy the card, send the wire, or scan the payment code.
2. End the call or conversation, even if they say you will be arrested or lose money.
3. Call a family member or friend and tell them what happened.
4. If you are worried a bill is real, contact the company or agency using a number from a statement or its official website.
5. Report the attempt at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If you already paid

• Gift card: contact the company that issued the card right away, keep the card and receipt, and ask for a refund.
• Wire transfer: contact the wire transfer company or your bank immediately and ask them to stop or reverse it.
• Bank transfer or payment app: contact your bank or the app’s support through the official app and report the fraud.
• Credit or debit card: call the number on the back of your card and dispute the charge.
• Then report it to the FTC. Speed matters; the sooner you act, the better the chance of stopping the payment.

Common questions

Why do scammers like gift cards so much?

Gift card balances can be spent or resold within minutes, and there is no bill or account statement linking the money to the scammer.

Is a payment app safe to use?

Payment apps are fine for paying people you know. Treat any request to send money through an app to a stranger, or to ‘verify’ your account, as a likely scam.

What if they want cash picked up at my home?

That is a scam. No legitimate agency or relative in trouble will send a courier to collect cash.

Related guides

• Gift Cards Are Only for Gifts
• Report Gift Cards Used in a Scam (Video Guide)
• Refund and Settlement Scams
• Hidden Fees: How to Spot Charges You Never Agreed To

About this video

This video was produced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a U.S. government agency, and plays from the agency’s own channel. Juggling Chaos wrote this summary and guide; we are not affiliated with or endorsed by the agency. Some details on screen, such as phone models or web addresses, may look dated, but the advice still applies. Checked October 7, 2026.

Learn more about payment scams on the FTC’s scams page.