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One thing we know about scammers — they want money, and they want it fast. That’s why, whatever the con they’re running, they usually ask people to pay a certain way. They want to make it easy for themselves to get the money — and nearly impossible for you to get it back.

Their latest method? iTunes gift cards. To convince you to pay, they might pretend to be with the IRS and say you’ll be arrested if you don’t pay back taxes right now. Or pose as a family member or online love interest who needs your help fast. But as soon as you put money on a card and share the code with them, the money’s gone for good.

If you’re not shopping at the iTunes store, you shouldn’t be paying with an iTunes gift card. Other payment methods scammers might ask for include Amazon gift cards, PayPal, reloadable cards like MoneyPak, Reloadit, or Vanilla, or by wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram. Government offices won’t require you to use these payment methods.

If you get targeted by a scam like this, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

Want to know more about avoiding scams? Read How to Avoid a Scam

It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.

The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Hermit crab
February 11, 2019
Man know keep asking me to buy him data if not do will not able to talk me and he keep pushing me to buy for his data and not if he tell me the truth or he is from Africa he very controling not what do I’m on the autism Spectrum is truth or not have what ad never ends !!! Want man who treat me right
Allie
February 18, 2019
I am so happy I did a lot of research and calling. This guy keeps ordering me to buy him an iTunes card so he can send me money with PayPal. Yeah, I asked a couple cop friends and there's no way, in any country, iTunes is used to pay on PayPal (as in to send money to someone.) And this guy is supposedly "rich" but wants me to buy him a card? Hmm... Yeah big scammer.
kildare b63
February 20, 2019
VL Thank god I catch my self quick a guy pose himself has one of Nigerian actor try the same thing with me, claims he was filming a movie and he need a calling card for his 1phone then he change to iTunes gift card. Luckily I catch on quick he insisted that I buy $100 to $200 iTunes gift card and send the codes to his phone.
Dzigner25
February 22, 2019
I have a go fund me account right now in order to get some help with the cost of surgery for our 14 month old pup. I’ve been in contact with this person who says if I send a Walmart to Walmart or $50 iTunes card I can pick up a donation amount from a western union. If I’m not giving out any bank info how could they really scam me othervthen take a lousy $50 when they say they can offer us the full payment for our pups surgery of $9000. Anyone heard of this? They say the $50 is refundable it’s just to prove we are real!!
jacobbajada258…
February 22, 2019
I meet this girl online she's from America we are talking at the moment she said she would come to Queensland to see me for two days I said I will hit her a ticket she then said can you get a steam $100 card or $100 I tunes card is this a scam how do you pay for a flight on a I tunes card
Veronica
August 22, 2019

In reply to by jacobbajada258…

Please please don’t answer her it is a scam. It’s best not to send her a thing. If you heard her voice on the phone that’s the best way to get to know her or video chat her. Without asking her to prove she’s real. If she stops texting you or messaging you then you know she isn’t real. Please be safe out there.
ert
February 24, 2019
I just learned from my two handicapped nephews that they have been scammed for nearly $2000 (that I know of ) by some unknown woman. iTunes is complicit in all these scams. They could care less who gets hurt. This keeps happening over and over. Apparently all you need to get cash is a piece of paper with a number that has been given to you over the phone or internet. Apple should be smart enough to invent a procedure to prevent cash payments to someone not in possession of the actual card. People that cannot afford to have their money stolen are suffering while Apple keeps on smiling all the way to the bank
Jag
March 09, 2019
Honey please are you there honey I was trying to take a picture on my cell and it's shows honeyI just get to talk to sassy about it honey he said I have to get a gift card to do that honey.. This one is trying everything to get something out of me.
Sugarlips
March 14, 2019
I have this guy wanting a iTunes card from me a 500 dollar iTunes card. His name is Tony Craig a civil engineer that is the name he is going by. I met him online and he had been writing me all kind of love letters. Now that his job send him down to Cape Town , South Africa, he is asking me send $500 dollars I tune card. I didn't give it to him because this seems like a scam. His number is 13462581634 if you come around this fraud be careful. He claimed he lost his phone. It's all a scam.
Don't use your…
March 14, 2019
I also have a guy named Adam Smith saying he works for Exxon Mobile and wants iTunes card for $500 to activate his account to send me money. Yeah right.Scammm. I have had other's too same stories I have read. Big scams.
protect me
March 14, 2019
from google hangout Adam's daughter Cindy asked me about iTunes card she need download I just met her on yesterday then she asked me about iTunes card for she need. I believe that scammers. I don't want give her iTunes card. so should I be block them from hangouts ?
lee
March 17, 2019
my scammer claims to be borka georgi, a Bulgarian living in queensland. reckons he works in mining with gemstones. met me through academic singles dating site, moved to email then WhatsApp. typical loving responses, even showed me pic of his mother and daughter allegedly. wife deceased. he did send a video so his face matched his pics but the voice was out of sync. next thing I know, he is flying to johanessburg and needed either a vanilla card or iTunes card so that he could check on his mining! very insistent, really needed it, very important to him. I looked into it, had alarm bells ringing like no ones business, told him we don't do vanilla cards, so he asked why I didn't get him an iTunes card, wanted me to get a 100 dollar card and send him the codes. he would get it on his phone when he landed in johanessburg! I told him he could get a card at the airport, anyone could have got that for him, needless to say, haven't heard from him since, this was Friday the 15th march. I have reported him to the ftc, the dating site and facebook, will see what happens.
Victor1
March 27, 2019
You guys be wise Even those guys are scamming their fellow citizens talk more about you Americans
tasha
March 30, 2019
Someone said they are sending me a paypal but i must send them a google play worth $50 to receive the money. I feel like it’s a scam
BabyLewis5119
April 06, 2019
This guy says he will deposit the money in my account as soon as I register with the 150 worth of google play cards?? I am eight months pregnant and really need the money but also I don't want to loose 150 dollars !!! Should I do it or not is it a scam?
Will
April 08, 2019
At first I wanted to make a purchase online and they requested the ITunes card for payment, I got the card and was going to meet the person for the purchase. They wanted to verify before and asked for the numbers, that is when I put on the breaks, Now I have a $100 gift card, how can I get a refund or spend the money on anything else.
Rebel
April 12, 2019
I get women who ask for itunes catds or steam cards i tell them i cant get it right now. As for the ladies dealing with the poser saying he is military over seas get a current photo with timestamp on it and ill deal with him he is a fake person
Sun
April 16, 2019
This girl wants me to send her a $100 iTunes gift card to activate her phone. Is that true?
Veronica
August 22, 2019

In reply to by Sun

Not true at all. Stay away. These girls are gold diggers. They’re probably rich as hell and we’re barely making in it .
Dojmartinez3363
April 21, 2019
I have a man here that was introduced to me through another individual online . he asked my to get him an I tune card 49 $ then when I called him out he was offended. And last night he writes me being disappointed and angry I called him a scammer as once he asked for the card. Pure silence and again last night he said for me to get the card for him after calling me greedy and poor . does anyone ever jave to buy an itunes card for computers ???
Puss2000
April 22, 2019
Can you buy gas with iTunes card
Morningstar0028
April 26, 2019
From oct 2018. I have met a gentleman online n never met him and i am still dating him until now. I have spent over 10, 000 in itune, amazon, n steam cards to send to him. I even sent Money through western union and money gram, which is included n this total. I didnt know anything about online dating nor scammers using these methods. He always says he is going to buy me a house n we r going to get married. I tried putting up his pic but i cant find anything regardi g him through it or his email address. I stopped buying these cards over 1 month ago.
Azel
September 20, 2020

In reply to by Morningstar0028

Same here someone add me in facebook under by kelvin lee if someone encounter this, after we chat in messenger he invite me to go in "hangouts" after almost 1 week he try me to fall in love with him but be4 that i always check his fb acct and im thinking something was wrong from the profile i just caught some comment of him from another group and he has a wrong mistake to put his real name in that comment and i found waggon meschack strangers using another profile by kelvin lee i found him scammers bec after 1 week we talk he is asking me to buy i tunes card witch is he told me that in military camp its very complicated to use wifi. If u know kelvin lee there is person behind that scammer
Kt
May 03, 2019
Omg these stories are like mine.anyone know of person Bling Lawson Silva in Cyprus. Met on mingle took me to hangouts chatting for 3 months says he's civil engineer there on work wants to get married come here etc.seems sincere lovable but never talked .Sounds like all other stories sends pics has to chat I'm confused but leary.Sounds wonderful and perfect but I have a feeling.If I could find a guy like this be great lol.just started asking for itune card.Also said born in Germany lived in Maryland is us n German citizen
b4foozn
May 04, 2019
First of this came through as my boss name which masked the real ID. I got the first email say "Are you available? there is something i need you to do. I am going for a meeting now, so just reply my email asap.", with my boss's name at the top as always but the email underneath was masked. I proceed to due what I thought he wanted me to do, so I went with it like it was him as if he was donating to customers or charity. I then ran to get them at Walmart and from there I had to email the backs of the card to my boss, which I did but the big give away was when they wanted me to send 10 more. Then after talking with with my boss directly, I call ITunes and had all but 2 $50 ones stopped from being spent. I opened a claim on FTC.gov site and had to send pictures to apple of the cards(Front and Back), the Receipts and the Open file at FTC.gov. Watch out for this type where it comes through as a Boss or someone over you, but for some reason there email was put into my address book under my bosses name. I searched the email and never found that email before 5/3 in all my emails. They are getting in some who and they new to mask my boss's name to scam me.
Pauline Davis
May 06, 2019
I was ask to go buy a lot of iTunes card and to send them to a Darren Malcom butler who sent me a message saying that I had won money and told me that my money would be on my doorstep first it was a government funded grant and then the flight crack then the security people wouldn't release the money unless I paid so much money now it is the IRS who are looking for £7000. 500 from me before I get and what I was supposed to have won. I keep telling this Darren Malcom butler that I don't have any money because I am in depth and I even borrowed money to send over to Darren Malcom Butler. I have even told him to send me back all the money that I sent to him and all that he says that I can't have my money back which I sent this Darren Malcom butler over and he and this federal government fund grant people won't send me back to me and now this Darren Malcom Butler is saying that the IRS wants money off me. I have paid nearly £900 to Darren Malcom Butler and is still keep asking me how much can I get to send over. I keep asking him to just send me all the money that I sent to him Darren Malcom butler but all that he keeps saying I won't get my money back even though I told him that I that he is taking money off me under faults pretence and I am ill and disabled and he and the federal government fund and now this IRS who ever they are won't give me my £900 back nor will their so called cashier
meme9009
May 09, 2019
Wow, so ridiculous all these stories of con's these people are running with this iTunes thing. Met a guy on POF immediately asked to switch over to WhatsApp, I'm like okay a phone number is practically useless for anything other than being on the phone. ... so we chat for not even 24 hours and he's already professing his love for me first he's asking all these questions about what I want in a relationship and I'm answering accordingly, told me his dad died in an accident & at a young age, then mom passed away a yr ago & grandma passed away when she got the news his mom died. he asked me for a video of me singing [okay a 16 second shot; which I learned there is another scam that they are using to gain access to your WhatsApp via voice verification but as soon as I did my WhatsApp I have a 2-step Verification and so if that's what he was trying to do he wouldn't accomplish anything]... he sent me pictures of him in a full uniform & partial and a video of him singing first, so i returned the gesture . .. he's using the name Alex Black and the last name on the uniform does say Black ... I'm not sure whose pictures and video he is using or where he got them from because no matter how hard I searched I couldn't find them anywhere. The red flag with me was he asked me to buy him an iTunes card for his data, said his connection was going out... I video called him & he refused to answer repeatedly then he finally called me but it was on mute and the camera was so close to what was or was not his face (probably a prerecorded video) and then he ended the call. So I asked him to give me his account information so I could put the iTunes number in there... he said that I couldn't do it online I needed to go to the store purchase it from there and then let him know ... I gave him multiple chances to correct maybe what he said or typed by mistake but he stuck to the story that the iTunes can be used for data said that he'd be so sad if he couldn't talk to me didn't know what he be able to do .. using the number 2624775690... I told him that I would take my chances elsewhere & blocked him.
Kimberly3278
May 09, 2019
I think that I am in big trouble a really good friend of mine offered to help me with some money I gave him my I'm formation and suddenly he was having trouble making the transfer and asked me to buy him an Sephora card which I knew had nothing to do with what he needed I politely mentioned this to him and he said it was so he could trade it for a iTunes card to update his phone so that he could go ahead and transfer the money to me well I checked that out to and came across this site and after reading some of the things on here I informed him about this as well and told him that I know that you can't update a phone with an iTunes card but I still think that I may be in big trouble what can I do about this i know if it was really stupid on my part but he's supposed to be a friend
Manal957
May 14, 2019
I am being scammed by someone claiming to be serving in Libya in disclosed deployment.Started like so many of the scenarios I've read on here... but sounded so genuine at the time.. 'met' him on a dating site.. he said he was in London where I'm from, only after a day in did he reveal that he was not in London but serving in Libya. he has a daughter and hi s wife died in a car crash. He is phenomenally handsome with the fittest body and dreamy eyes. Very quickly progressed to useing terms of endearmnet and talk of love and I'd never even heard his voicce as we communicated on 'kik'.. he said because of the special nature of his deployment, he was not allowed a camera and could not make phone calls. He asked for me to pay for 'secured communication' and sent a dodgy looking 'military' email...I mailed it from a made up address and the equally dodgy response was badly spelt and punctuated and asked for a transfer of £210 to be paid to an account with western union. I've given no money but he knows a few details like my name and email address. I've since deactivated my fb account. He also asked for an itunes card. The most bizarre thing was that although I knew it was a scam at different parts of our'liason' I hoped beyond hope that he wasn't aware that it was and he was also a victim. His name was 'Ariel Torres'
Meme
July 20, 2019
Anybody ever heard of a company called Davidson ? The guys name is frank Miller Berg... feed back please.
naveamon2005
September 17, 2019
I bought a gift card and sent me a gift card that was used
b-yasin84
September 17, 2019
Because I shipped the iTunes card and I could not buy it and my account is closed because of the mistakes of the secret code and I want to open it
Hernandez Mel6179
August 01, 2019
Ok. So im talking to this guy on fb. An said he was gonna sent me money. But then yesterday he asked me to get him a itunes gift card cuz he is in Arizona an that supposedly where he is at there is no more. An he says he works for the army. But im like why would those cards finish right. Anyone i need answers
sally Mae
August 02, 2019
This scam is also being used in The FBgame } words with friends”. A poor lonely soul stuck on an oil rig (or elsewhere) sweet talks women into getting iTunes gift cards for them!
Hamahozan
August 05, 2019
Please give me card code 10$ ituns
Carol
August 13, 2019
I was contacted through LinkedIn by a man wanting to get to know me. A few messages later, wanted to use Hangouts. Then a few days later asked for an iTunes card which set alarm bells ringing. He claimed to be from StLouis, Missouri. Claimed his wife had died and daughter in boarding school. Linkedin photo disappeared which confirmed my suspicions. Thankfully I didn't lose anything but I am warning others . I have reported it
Scundered Augu…
August 13, 2019
I have been be-friended by a guy on linked in. His name is Harris Martins. He was a charming business man from California. He was heading to Nigeria for contracts on oil rig. He made out I was his long lost soul mate. He seemed to be lovely thoughtful and caring American guy. Sent me a few photos thru, I thought he seemed a really nice guy. A few days into are friendship, he asked if I could get him an iTunes card and send him a photo of it. He was having phone problems and needs to sync this with an iTunes card. I asked him to transfer money but he said he had no means to do so on oil rig. He would refund the money when he is off oil rig. I said I do not have a spare £100. He said it was ok but strangely his attitude is less romantic in his what’s app messages. I tried to call him a few times this evening but he did not answer and said we will talk tomorrow. He really has answers for everything. I have asked a few questions tonight so I am sure he will be gone in the morning. I hope I am totally wrong as he seemed a nice guy but I think my gut instinct is right. The photos I was sent were probably not the photos of the man I was talking to. So someone is using someone’s photos and pretending to be them. I really can understand how people get drawn into this and end up losing money. So glad I realised something was strange. Will see in the morning if he still is messaging. Please be aware if something or somebody seems too good to be true, go with you gut feeling and do not allow yourself to be scammed. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Sorrybutnotsorry
August 13, 2019
Yep don’t do it we alll have similar stories of this guy I would upload pic but don’t see an option dude is buff with blonde hair and huge biceps making funny face in most poses
Inman268
August 28, 2019
I met this guy from Nigeria, he's cute and says he needs a $100 Amazon Card, first he told me $25 than he said a $50. He said that the $25-$50 will not work. And he wants a relationship with me , or build one. Said he will be my king. Took beautiful pictures, and pictures of his daughter and co-workers. He wants to FaceTime me, that's why he needs the card.What should I do?
Khali
August 28, 2019
I believe that I am being a victim of Facebook relationship scam any one know who stole Jessica information on line for profile and marry wight I'm wondering if I'm being scammed by a black market person portraying herself like she is gorgeous and that she is getting tips for marry me I need apple I tunes card I used it for marry wight
johnsmith5144
September 01, 2019
It is not just you ladies, this happens to men as well. I am online at Mingle.com I am sure most of you women chat with these so-called men with amazing jobs, contractors, military, and other working professionals that need YOUR MONEY... I met online these supermodels that all share the same thing as you, but the online women all need a new phone as the one they have is broken and unable to video chat, after like 30 seconds of chatting on hangouts they request that I send them iTunes gift cards. Now let's be serious here, how can I or anyone be that gullible to have any sort of feelings with just these black letters on a screen? TIP: Ladies ANY MAN that needs you to give him money no matter what the reason, is clearly not worth your time. Even if the man is standing right in front of you in-person and asks you to lend, give, borrow, invest, is a RED FLAG, RUN AWAY, move on, delete, forget, do you know how many men there are you can have, you so do not need some sorry ass man that needs your money. Just as much as I do not or will not send a woman a cent that I have only met online via text message, good chance the woman I am texting has very hairy legs and a deep voice.
johnsmith5144
September 01, 2019
You are correct People use prerecorded video to give the illusion it's them. Have the person on webcam write your name on paper and show you, have them wave their hand, have them display 3 fingers, heave them make a funny face. Something to prove that you are not looking at a video. Video Chat does not really mean the person you are looking at is really the person on webcam - unless they are able to pass one or two of your tests.
PLM
September 03, 2019
I been talking to a Guy name Patrick Walters he’s from Indiana. But working in Lagos, Nigeria on a oil rig and after a couples of days he loved me, he has a son in boarding school, in Indiana. And now he dropped his phone and now his phone has a message that’s pops up saying your camera will not work until you add a ITunes card. I told him I will google that and see how you can fix it or I told him to call his provider and they can send him another phone. I was thinking about send the card but I decided to come online and google topics like this.
Tarheel momma
September 06, 2019
If they can pull it off of an itunes card then how do they get the money off to steal it
Aussie gentle giant
September 15, 2019
I have been continue to receive the same thing from women through twitter , skype , hangouts and whatsapp some claiming to be enlisted high ranking women in the army on the front line with photos in camouflage and patches that does not match the correct and current battelian's or traveling to africa to help as UN nurses , doctors and other occupations after the forth or sixth message or email and a dozen or more photos they claim is theirs too bad they cannot read the copyright printed at the botton of the photo suddenly hit me with the can you do me a favor I need to pay my phone , internet , shopping or have to get a new phone when asked to do a video call all of a sudden their camera is damaged or they have no camera before they ask me to buy itunes cards or amazon cards then take photos of the card and send it to them so they can reload or spend it on what ever their excuse was. It was nothing new to me since I have recieved over a 2000 scam emails a year in my spam mail box marked with a red stop sign of the same thing or that magic chest sitting in a security department contain millions in syrian gold or diamonds and USD requiring a certain amount of money to get it released to date I have never sent anything to any of them even now I believe I have another wannabe American woman (scammer) on hangouts supposedly living in California with a canadian registered mobile phone number continuously demanding I get a $100 USD itunes card straight away for her phone/internet account. I love America and the American history and culture but these clowns are wrecking the most important thing I so longed for which is one reason I have wanted to travel around the USA for
Steve116912
September 16, 2019
What I'd like to know is how they turn the cards they get into cash ? Who and where are they brokering these cards at ? Someone has to know who is brokering these cards and where the cash is coming from . And where the cash is going , each card has a number on it and with that it should be simple as hell to track the digital footprint of each and every card . Sounds like everyone is all worried about the person who is contacting each other and similarities in people , but let's track the cards and find out #1thieves and do something legal to these criminal . No different if your house had been broken into , but these people are stealing more than our money , there making off with your feeling and who you are as well as your money . What hurts worse the loss of money , or leaving you with that feeling of disappointment loneliness complete emptied and played with your emotions and feelings which hurts more than loosing out on the money . But together money and ones feelings leaves you broken . With that said someone tell me where and how these cards are turned back into cash ? Yes I was taken for enough and now I'm curious to the point why doesnt the feds the us marshals the law enforcement step in and shut it down . If you have read this and it makes sence and helps you . Thankyou . Steve 116912
Nannette
September 25, 2019
I am being harassed for an itune card to pay for phone data. I have been communicating with a person for about 3 months now. Wants itunes card or cutting off communication. No way will I do this. Watch out....
Luci
September 28, 2019
I have two guys asking for amazon gift cards because their iphones need an upgrade one gies by the name Dustin Russell works on an oilrid in the middle of the ocean and the other gosi by the name of Adam j Edwards and he says he is in the military they both have pictures
frogger0302
September 30, 2019
I need to know if this sounds right to anyone. I met this guy online and now his phone is messing up and he's overseas because his company sent him over there to buy some cars (he supposedly) a car salesman here in the states in import/export. Anyway, he lost some important files on his phone and needs iTune cards to get the files and other documents. What?!! Feedback anyone?!!