Recovering After a Gift-Card Scam — Including Help for Seniors
Steps to take after you or a relative was tricked into buying gift cards to pay a scammer, including how to support an older person through the process.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
First 10 minutes
- Stop purchasing gift cards and end contact with the person requesting them
- Gather all physical gift cards, receipts, and any email confirmations for the cards purchased
- Call the gift-card issuer's customer service line immediately — some issuers (Google Play, Apple, Amazon) have fraud teams that can freeze remaining card balances
- Do not share any card numbers or PINs with anyone claiming to be a recovery service
- If an elderly relative is still in contact with the scammer, gently intervene and stay calm
First 24 hours
- Report to your national fraud service with all gift card details, denominations, and purchase dates
- Contact the retailer where the cards were purchased and ask whether their fraud team can assist
- If the victim is elderly and vulnerable, consider contacting Adult Protective Services (US) or Social Services (UK)
Contact your bank or payment provider
- If gift cards were purchased using a debit or credit card, ask your bank or card provider about a chargeback against the retailer
- Ask the bank to flag the account for any suspicious future gift-card or wire-transfer activity
- Review any other payments made during the same period for additional losses
Evidence to preserve
- Physical gift cards and their packaging (the serial numbers and PINs may still be partially recoverable)
- Receipts from every gift card purchase
- Screenshots or recordings of the calls, texts, or messages from the scammer
Secure your accounts and devices
- If the scammer posed as a government agency or utility, verify the genuine contact details of that organisation and confirm no action is actually pending
- If any personal data was shared during the scam, monitor credit reports for new account openings
- Block the scammer's number and email address
Report it
- Report to your national fraud/cybercrime service
- Report to the platform, bank, or provider involved
- Keep any reference numbers you're given
Gift cards are requested by scammers precisely because the transaction is fast, hard to reverse, and hard to trace. Government agencies, courts, tax offices, utilities, and police forces never ask for payment by gift card — this is always a scam, regardless of how official the caller or message appears.
Recovery of the funds is difficult but not always impossible. Act quickly: some gift-card issuers have fraud teams that can freeze a card balance if it has not yet been spent, particularly for high-value cards from major platforms. The most important step for older victims is compassionate support — shame is a tool scammers rely on, and a non-judgmental response from family makes it easier for victims to report and accept help.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get my money back after a gift card scam?
Full recovery is rare but partial recovery is sometimes possible if the cards have not yet been drained. Call the issuer immediately with the card serial numbers and explain the fraud. A chargeback through your bank for the purchase of the cards is also worth attempting.
A government agency told me to pay by gift card — is that possible?
No. No government body, court, tax agency, utility company, or police force ever requests payment by gift card. If you received such a demand, it was fraud regardless of the caller ID shown or documents provided.