Report Gift Cards Used in a Scam (FTC Video Guide)
“Pay with a gift card” is one of the clearest scam signs there is. This FTC video runs through three common versions of the story, explains why each one is a scam, and tells you what to do if you already handed over the card numbers. Our guide below turns that into a step-by-step plan.
From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · Part of our Online Safety Video Library
What the video shows
The video plays out three calls: someone claiming to be from a tax agency, someone claiming to be tech support, and someone claiming to be a relative in an emergency. Each one asks for payment with a gift card, and each one is a scam.
It ends with the key rule, gift cards are for gifts, not for payments, and explains that if you already paid, you should contact the card company right away and then tell the FTC.
Key takeaways
- Government agencies never ask for payment with gift cards.
- Real tech support companies don’t make you pay with gift cards.
- A real relative in an emergency would not need a gift card.
- Once you share the card number and PIN, the money can be gone in minutes, so act fast.
- Reporting helps the card company and the FTC fight these scams.
What to do if you paid with a gift card
- Keep the card and the receipt. You will need the card number and proof of purchase.
- Contact the company that issued the card right away. Use the phone number or website printed on the card or found on the company’s official site, never one from the caller.
- Tell them the card was used in a scam and ask for a refund. Some companies can freeze remaining funds or refund part of the money.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Tell your family. Scammers often call back with a new story, such as offering to ‘recover’ your money for a fee.
A family rule worth repeating
Agree on one sentence everyone in the house knows: “If anyone asks me to pay with a gift card, I hang up and call you.” Write it on a note by the phone. It is the simplest protection there is for older parents and kids alike.
Common questions
The cashier asked why I was buying so many cards. Should I tell them?
Yes. Store staff are trained to spot this scam. If the honest answer is “someone on the phone told me to,” stop the purchase.
Someone called offering to help me recover my gift card money. Is that real?
Almost certainly not. Recovery offers that ask for a fee are a common follow-up scam.
Does it matter how long ago it happened?
Report it anyway. Even if the money is gone, the report helps companies and investigators stop the same scammers.
Related guides
- Gift Cards Are Only for Gifts
- How Scammers Tell You to Pay (Video Guide)
- Tech Support Scams: How They Work and How to Stop Them
- Refund and Settlement Scams
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.
The FTC keeps current gift card guidance, including card company contact information, at consumer.ftc.gov/gift-card-scams.
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Juggling Chaos will never ask for a password, payment, gift card, or verification code. Guides are general information, not legal or financial advice; see our Disclaimer and Terms and Editorial Policy.
