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The FTC reports that in 2021 alone, almost 40,000 people used gift cards to send money to scammers. Whether it’s a romance scam, AI-driven fraud, sextortion scheme, or something else, don’t lose hope if you've already fallen victim. You may still be able to recover your money if you take action promptly.
Steps to Recover Your Money After Sending Gift Cards to a Scammer
The Federal Trade Commission shares that some gift card providers are now freezing scammer funds to prevent criminals from accessing them, and in many cases, scam victims can get their money back. If you’ve been scammed, follow these steps to improve your chances of a refund.
Report to the gift card issuer: As soon as you realize you've been scammed, contact the company that issued the gift card. Provide them with the gift card number, your store receipt, and any other details they request. The sooner you report it, the better your chances of receiving a refund. However, make sure to report the scam regardless of when it happened. There's always hope for a resolution.
Request a refund: If the scammers haven't yet accessed the funds or if the card was frozen, the company might offer a refund. Keep in mind that scammers act fast to seize the money, but you may still have a chance.
File a report with the FTC: Though this might not lead to a refund for you personally, sharing accurate scam information helps in the battle against scamming as an industry.
How to report gift card scams to the issuing companies
Below, you'll find detailed instructions on how to report fraud to 13 major gift card providers. If the card you have isn't listed here, you can search for the company's contact details either online or directly on the card.
Amazon
To report a scam, call Amazon at 1 (888) 280-4331 and follow their provided instructions.
American Express
To report the scam, call American Express at 1 (877) 297-4438 and follow the steps they provide.
Apple, iTunes
Call 1 (800) 275-2273. When prompted, say “gift card” to connect with a live representative, then follow Apple's instructions.
Ask if the funds are still available on your Apple or iTunes gift card. If they are, Apple can freeze the card. You can also request a refund.
Best Buy
To report a scam, contact Best Buy by calling 1 (888) 237-8289 and follow the provided instructions.
eBay
You can chat with eBay customer support, or arrange for a representative to call you back.
Make sure to keep a copy of your eBay gift card or your store receipt for reference.
Google Play
Report the gift card scam to Google as soon as possible.
Request a refund for your money. If the funds are still on the card, Google has the ability to freeze it. If you don’t have a Google account, complete this form for assistance.
MoneyPak
Submit a fraud claim to MoneyPak to report the issue.
ReloadIt
For assistance, call 1 (888) 633-9434 and follow the instructions provided by ReloadIt.
Sephora
To resolve the issue, call Sephora at 1 (877) 737-4672 and follow their instructions.
Steam
Report the scam involving gift cards directly to Steam by visiting Steam Support.
Target is the name of the store.
Dial 1 (800) 544-2943 and follow the instructions provided by Target.
Vanilla is the brand in question.
Dial 1 (833) 322-6760 and follow the instructions provided by Vanilla.
Visa services are available. For further instructions, call 1 (800) 847-2911.
Dial 1 (800) 847-2911 and follow the steps provided by Visa’s automated system.
Walmart is available for assistance. Reach them at 1 (888) 537-5503 and follow the prompts.
To reach Walmart, call 1 (888) 537-5503 and follow the given instructions.
Be cautious of scams involving refunds and recovery. Stay alert for fraudulent activities.
One of the most deceptive scams is the 'recovery scam.' If you’ve recently fallen victim to a scam, you could be the next target. Here’s how it works: After being defrauded, the scammer poses as a legitimate entity—like a fraud prevention team from a bank, a card company’s legal department, or an organization that claims to help scam victims—and requests either a payment or personal details in exchange for recovering your stolen funds.
This could be the original scammer trying to scam you again, or your details might have ended up on a list of potential victims, and now more fraudsters are after you. Never trust unsolicited calls or messages claiming they can get your money back. Either ignore them or do thorough research on the organization and contact them directly yourself.
How to protect yourself from gift card scams
Scammers often try to pressure you into gift card payments, but there's a simple rule to follow: No legitimate business or government agency will ever ask for gift cards as payment. Likewise, no genuine person would insist on being paid only with gift cards. If someone rejects checks or credit card payments, they’re likely a scammer.
There’s much more to know about avoiding online scams, so be sure to explore Mytour’s guide on staying safe from scams for more details.
What makes scammers turn to gift cards?
Scammers primarily rely on three main methods to swindle money: wire transfers through services like Western Union, cryptocurrency, and gift cards. While cryptocurrency and wire transfers can be complex, gift cards are easier for victims to obtain, as most people are familiar with the racks of gift cards at their local supermarket.
Gift cards are also easy for scammers to exploit: Once a victim shares the card’s numbers and PINs, certain cards, like Visa gift cards, are essentially the same as cash. Although some card issuers are taking steps to prevent fraud, gift card scams are hard to trace and prosecute. Many gift cards can be used internationally, and since they aren’t tied to a specific person or account, it’s challenging to catch fraudsters or hold them accountable.
