Gift-card scam

Fraudsters favour gift cards as a payment mechanism because the codes are redeemable immediately, virtually untraceable once redeemed, and cannot be reversed once scratched and entered. Victims are typically told to buy gift cards from supermarkets or convenience stores and read the codes to the caller or enter them on a website.

Gift cards are used across many scam types: tech-support scammers charging for fake repairs, romance scammers asking for presents or emergency funds, fake tax-office calls demanding immediate settlement, and lottery scams requiring 'release fees'. Legitimate government agencies, courts, utilities, and reputable businesses will never ask for payment by gift card.

Stores are increasingly training staff to spot and interrupt suspicious gift-card purchases — older customers buying large quantities of gift cards while on the phone is a recognised intervention trigger.