Gift Cards as a Payment Method in Scams
How gift cards are used as a fraud payment method, which scam types rely on them most, and why the FTC flags them as a persistent risk.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Gift cards have been a preferred scam payment method for years because they are available in retail stores, difficult to trace, and effectively irreversible once the code is shared. Scammers typically instruct victims to purchase cards and read the numbers aloud or send a photo of the codes.
All figures below are from named FTC reports. Gift card losses tend to be lower per incident than cryptocurrency or bank transfer losses, but the method remains prevalent in impersonation scams targeting consumers of all ages.
Key figures
Government impersonation, family impersonation, tech support scams, and business impersonation
Top scam categories where gift cards are most frequently used as payment (FTC 2024)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024 (2024)
Apple and Target were the most reported gift card brands in fraud complaints
Most reported gift card brands used by scammers (FTC 2024)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024 (2024)
More than $165 million lost to tech support scams in the first half of 2024
Tech support scam losses where gift cards were a typical payment method (FTC, H1 2024)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024 (2024)
Key takeaways
- Gift cards remain a primary payment method in impersonation-based scams: government, business, family, and tech support fraud.
- Legitimate government agencies, businesses, and technical support services never ask for payment in gift cards.
- Apple and Target cards were the most reported brands used in gift card scam payments in 2024.
- Gift card losses are often lower per victim than cryptocurrency or bank transfer losses, but are extremely difficult to reverse.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get my money back if I paid a scammer with a gift card?
It is very difficult. Once the gift card code has been shared with a scammer, funds are typically spent quickly. Report the fraud immediately to the card issuer (for example, Apple or Target) and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Some issuers have refund programmes for fraud victims, but recovery is not guaranteed. File a report regardless, as complaint data help authorities track scam networks.