Consumer Alert
If you paid a scammer with a gift card, is your money gone? Maybe not
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Did someone tell you to buy a gift card and give them the numbers? That’s a scam. Your money was gone the moment you gave someone those gift card numbers. But now, some gift card companies might be able to get your money back.
Gift card scams start with calls, texts, emails, or social media messages. The scammer pretends to be someone they’re not: a company, the government, a family member, or romantic interest. Their message is always urgent. And they want money. They’ll tell you to buy a gift card or maybe multiple gift cards. Once you do, they’ll demand you send a photo of the card or give them the numbers on the back of the card.
But now, some gift card companies are flagging fraudulent transactions and freezing stolen gift card money so that scammers can’t get it. And those gift card companies want to give that money back.
So, if a gift card scam happens to you, act fast:
- Report it to the gift card company. Tell them you were scammed. Give the gift card company the information from your receipt or a copy of the numbers on your gift card.
- Ask for your money back. Once you report a gift card scam to the gift card company, ask for your money back. If the money was frozen or not downloaded by the scammer, some gift card companies will give the money back.
- Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report makes a difference and helps #stopscams.
The faster you contact any gift card company to report a gift card scam, the better the chance of getting your money back. But it doesn’t matter when you were scammed with a gift card. For more information about avoiding and reporting gift card scams, visit ftc.gov/giftcards.
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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.
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August 21, 2023
This is really good, I did this but was not able to recover my money from the gift cards at google.
August 21, 2023
We reported the scam to Walmart and they said that they could do nothing and would not give us our money back. Don’t buy Walmart gift cards!
August 21, 2023
In reply to We reported the scam to… by Adrian
Yes Walmart got me good .and would not give money back. Never buy gift cards at Walmart they straight rip customers off all the time
August 21, 2023
In reply to We reported the scam to… by Adrian
I was told to buy Vanilla gift cards .Then he said try Amazon card. I think that didn't work as well for him and he went back to Vanilla card. I was talked into buying four Vanilla card cards and one Amazon. I saved all of them.I called Vanilla card the first time. They said they would look into it.I did not call again. I thought everything was on the up and up.What a nice sounding person. Good person doing bad things. God bless his soul!
August 22, 2023
In reply to We reported the scam to… by Adrian
I had the same experience. They wouldn't exchange the gift card either. It was an Apple gift card. The card didn't work either but they still wouldn't give my money back or let me exchange it. Neither would Apple.
August 21, 2023
i was scammed for $1000. with two Target gift cards in April,23 . Target cannot help unless cards or receipt have been saved. I cannot share either. I was so scared that my memory has been forgotten. I reported to the FBI as instructed by my local police department. I have not heard back from them. It was a waste of time calling Target Gift card scam
August 21, 2023
They got 1,000.00 from me in 2020. I was at most vulnerable state of mind, disabled and had just moved 3rd time to rental house in SCafter relocating from NY. One month after moving spouse had motorcycle accident in ICU one month, not allowed there covid had just hit. He came home, in hospital bed over 1 yr and i knew nobody, only one his caretaker and still living out of boxes today. No money refturned and no car to get gift cards so taxi took me. She knew it was a scam, i was threatened so i was scared and she even called police to help. Officer came to walmart and did not tell me to hang up on scammer just flirted with taxi girl. Still had more money stolen recenntly too. Website acts as selling extra items from amazon and lost 300.00 for a desk laptop and mini speakers. Reported but nothing heard as of today. Now i do not even answer my phone and do not believe any one helps and i had multiple thefts since living in 2 rental homes. Cannot wait to get my retirrment condo of my own. World not the same anymore as nobody cares. I learned the hard way.
August 22, 2023
I was scammed out of thousands of dollars. He sounded soooo nice & friendly. I should have known better, but I was a total idiot. It will NEVER happen to me again.
September 13, 2023
In reply to I was scammed out of… by Granny
My sister met aan on a dating site.. suppose to be millionair with big business .. went over to cypress for so called meeting but turned out to be a couple months long.. now company went belly up .. so now he's trying to get her to purchase a vanilla gift card for himself. HES FILLED HER WITH I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.. I WANT TO MARRY YOU.. CONVINCED HER TO PUT ALL HER PERSONAL INFO ABOUT EVERYTHING OUT THERE. MADE GER BELIEVE TO ANSWER HIM BACK AS I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU. ASKEC HER TO EVEN TAKE OUT CAR LOAN. NOW SHES NOT FIMILAR WITH SCAMMERS AND YET SEEMS TO BELIEVE THIS MAN AS TRUTHS AND IS CONSIDERING GETTING A CARD.. IT BOTHERS ME TROLLS LIKE THIS ARE EVERYWHERE. I DO BELIEVE THIS STORY NEEDS TO BE PUT OUT THERE AS A WARNING TO WOMEN OR MEN ALIKE TO WARN THEM.. DONT ALWAYS BELIEVE WHAT YOU HEAR JUST WAIT TO YOU ACTUALLY MEET BEFORE EVER DISCUSSING ANY MONEY WHAT SO EVER..
September 15, 2023
In reply to I was scammed out of… by Granny
This Grammy was also very recently scammed for a lot of money too!
August 22, 2023
I was scammed out of $10,000 target gift cards a year ago from scammers. I reported it to Target immediately & twice to consumer affairs & didn’t even get a response!
Target replied nothing they could do if they were already cashed by scammers. Don’t waste your time!
August 22, 2023
I was scammed about a year ago! He said he was a FB computer tech and I sent him a $50 Amazon gift card and he wanted another gift card but Amazon flagged the second card and said it was a scam! I told Amazon about the first gift card. Amazon said they would refund my money but they never did! So, I lost $50! Never again do I trust a stranger and send him gift cards or money! But this guy kept messaging me! I think I may have messaged him back and told him he was a scammer! His messages finally stopped! But I did notice he had changed his name!
August 22, 2023
I was scammed too! I applied for a job add and the scammer used a fake Facebook acct. told me to by gift cards which would be used to purchase trading equipments. Told me to by vanilla gift cards and give him numbers. I fell for it and he scammed me out over $10,000. I believed him I should have known better when he was threatening and pressured me to go buy cards. I was so stupid. I contacted gift card company and reported to the local police department. I couldn’t get anyone to help me. I was out of luck. I’m ashamed I fell for this!!
August 22, 2023
In reply to I was scammed too! I… by TB
I used a credit card to buy gift cards and I have to get a personal loan to pay off my high interest rate and my credit report took a hit. I wish I could get at least half my money back!!
August 23, 2023
I was hired to do a secret shopping job with who I thought was Whole Foods, I do these all the time and thought it was legit. Only to find out when I turned in the work and the gift cards numbers I lost that money and I had to pay back the money the bank was out because I was paid with a check and told to buy the gift cards to use as a payment source. smh!
August 24, 2023
I reported it when it happened but was not encouraged to really pursue it. The person just acted as if,well that's on you.
August 30, 2023
I have been defrauded on every level from identity theft , car insurance , every account upwards of 500,000 my life is in ruins and even my mail is fake it’s a nightmare and receiving money back lol 😂 never
September 14, 2023
I was scammed into buying a 500.00 Target gift card. I contacted my bank first, & they investigated & said was fraud so no charge from them. I called Target next & they have refused to claim it as fraudulent, so they are still trying to charge me for the 500.00.
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