Atlantic Blog

According to a report by the Federal Trade Commission, one in four people has been a victim of a Gift Card scam. In fact, it is the number one most reported method of fraud¹. To some, this may sound silly – gift cards? Really? But to over 40,000 people who lost $148 million in 2021², it was no laughing matter. 

If you or a loved one find yourself in these situations, it's essential to recognize that you are dealing with a gift card scammer: 

1. A caller says they are from the Government - Maybe the IRS or the Social Security Administration. They say a matter is urgent and that you must pay right away or something terrible will happen. No real business or government agency will ever insist you pay them with a gift card.  

2. Someone calls from tech support - Maybe saying they're from Apple or Microsoft, there's something wrong with your computer, and they ask if you could pay for the IT service through gift cards (like iTunes or Amazon). Do not engage. If you need tech support, call via the official phone on the legitimate website.  

3. You meet someone special on a dating website - But they need money desperately and fast and ask you to help them. This romance scammer will make up any story to trick you into sending them gift cards. Do not help them! They are a fraudster! 

4. The scammer pretends to be a friend or family member in an emergency - They ask you to immediately send money – via gift cards – but not tell anyone. This is a scam. If you're concerned, contact them directly to see if everything is alright. 

5. In short - Anyone who demands to be paid with a gift card is a scammer. 

Overall, it’s important to remember that gift cards are for gifts, not payments. 

Why do scammers like using gift cards?