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RECOVERY

I paid a scammer with gift cards — what do I do now?

Asking for gift card payment is one of the clearest signs of a scam — no government agency, utility company, or legitimate business ever asks to be paid in gift cards. Call the gift card issuer right now. If the balance has not been used yet, there is a chance they can freeze it.

In an active crisis?

  • Call your bank
  • Call the platform (Amazon, PayPal, MobilePay, etc.)
  • Call local police

Important — watch out for a second scam: Be very careful of anyone who contacts you promising to get your money back — especially for an upfront fee. No legitimate company or government agency guarantees recovery of scammed funds. Recovery-scam operators specifically target people who have just been scammed. Paying them is a second scam. Never pay a fee to recover money, and never give your details to an unsolicited "fund recovery" service.

Step 1 — Call the gift card issuer immediately

Do this now: Call the customer service number on the back of the gift card or on the issuer's official website. Tell them the card was used in a scam and ask them to freeze the remaining balance. Have the card number and PIN ready — you will need them. Keep the physical card and any receipts.

Recovery is possible but unlikely once the card balance has been redeemed. If you call before the scammer uses the card, the issuer may be able to freeze the remaining balance. Even if the full amount is gone, report it — the issuer logs fraud reports and this information is shared with the FTC.

Important: Find the customer service number on the official website of the gift card brand — not from a search result or from anything the scammer sent you. Common gift card brands used in scams include Google Play, Apple iTunes, Amazon, eBay, Steam, and Walmart. Each has its own fraud reporting process.

Step 2 — Report to the FTC (US) or your national authority

Do this now: Report the gift card scam to the authorities. In the US, the FTC specifically tracks gift card scams and shares reports with gift card issuers — your report can help freeze accounts used by scammers. Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Step 3 — What to remember for the future

No government agency — including the IRS, HMRC, the ATO, or any police force — will ever ask you to pay a fine, tax bill, or legal fee using gift cards. No utility company, tech support service, or prize organisation will ask for gift card payment either. This is always a scam, without exception.

Important: If anyone contacts you again asking for more gift cards — even if they claim to be helping you recover the money you already lost — that is also a scam. Do not send any more gift cards to anyone.

You've taken the right steps: You have called the gift card issuer, reported to the authorities, and kept your receipts and card details. You have done what you can. This is not your fault — gift card scams are designed to be convincing and time-pressured.

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This page was last reviewed: June 27, 2026.
Recovery pages are drafted with AI assistance, then reviewed line-by-line by the editor, sourced against official reporting authorities, and tested for tone and clarity before publication.