Gift Card Payment Scam Statistics
Reported losses and complaint volumes for scams using gift cards as the payment method, drawn from FTC Consumer Sentinel official reports.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Gift-card scams occur when criminals — often impersonating government agencies, utility companies, tech-support agents, or romantic partners — instruct victims to purchase prepaid gift cards and share the card numbers and PINs. Gift cards are the scammer's preferred payment mechanism because they are anonymous, instantly redeemable, and virtually impossible to reverse once the code is shared.
The $212 million in losses recorded by the FTC represents only reported incidents. Because gift-card scam victims often feel acutely embarrassed — having been manipulated through elaborate pretexts involving authority or urgency — the FTC and consumer advocates consistently note that actual losses are believed to be significantly higher than complaint totals indicate.
Key figures
More than $212 million in reported losses across more than 41,000 fraud reports in 2024
Reported losses to gift-card and prepaid-card payment scams (US, FTC)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network 2024 Data Book (2024)
Target gift cards accounted for approximately $35 million in payments to scammers in 2024 — more than twice any other brand
Most-used gift card brand in scam payments (US, FTC)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network 2024 Data Book (2024)
Median loss of $2,500 per victim report; nearly one-third of reporters lost $5,000 or more
Median loss per gift-card scam victim (US, FTC)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network 2024 Data Book (2024)
Key takeaways
- US consumers reported over $212 million in gift-card and prepaid-card scam losses to the FTC in 2024, across more than 41,000 reports.
- Target gift cards were the most frequently used brand, accounting for roughly $35 million — more than twice the next most common card.
- The median loss per victim was $2,500, and nearly a third of victims reported losing $5,000 or more.
- No legitimate government agency, utility, or business will ever ask you to pay a debt or fine using gift cards — this is a definitive red flag of fraud.
Frequently asked questions
Why do scammers specifically ask for gift cards?
Gift cards are effectively untraceable cash. Once a victim reads the card number and PIN to a scammer, the funds can be spent or resold within minutes. Unlike wire transfers, which some banks can recall in the immediate aftermath of fraud, gift-card transactions are permanent. The FTC notes that no legitimate government agency, tech company, or business will demand payment via gift cards.