What to do if you paid with gift cards
Gift card scams fool careful people every day. It is not your fault. Call the gift card company now. Some companies may be able to give money back, so it is worth asking, even if it happened a while ago.
Do these steps in order
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Do this now Call the gift card company now
Use the number on the back of the gift card or the FTC's list below. Don't search online for a support number. Scammers post fake ones. Tell them a scammer got the card number and PIN. Ask for your money back.
What to say: “A scammer tricked me into giving them the number and PIN on my gift card. Please freeze the card and refund my money.”
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Keep the gift cards and your receipts
Do not throw them away. You may need them to get money back. Take a photo of the front and back of each card and each receipt.
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Stop all contact with the scammer
Do not buy more cards, even if they say there was a problem or promise to pay you back. Do not send them photos of cards or read them any numbers.
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Write down what happened
Write the store, date, amount, and card company for each card. Add any names or phone numbers the scammer used. You will need this for your reports.
Follow up later
- Tomorrow: call back and ask for your case or claim number. Write it down.
- In 30 days: look at your bank and card statements for anything you don’t know.
Keep your place
To keep your place, bookmark this page or copy your private link.
Keep the link private. It shows the steps you’ve ticked. Never send it to anyone who calls, texts, or emails you. Latchstring will never ask for it. Your browser’s history also keeps this address, and may copy it to your Google or Apple account if you sync. On a shared phone or computer, use a private window, or clear your history afterward.
Did any of these happen too?
- I sent money by bank, Zelle, wire, Western Union, or MoneyGram
- I paid with an app like Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal
- I paid with a credit or debit card
- I sent crypto or used a Bitcoin ATM
- I gave cash, gold, or my cards to someone
- I deposited a check and sent money back
- I shared a code or password
- My phone suddenly has no service
- My email or social media account was hacked
- I let someone into my computer or phone
- Someone is using my name, or I gave out my Social Security number
Then, report it and get free help
- Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (Federal Trade Commission).
- Also report it to the FBI at IC3.gov, even if it started with a phone call or a visit.
- Get a free recovery plan from a real person: call or text 888-400-5530 (Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit).
- Age 60 or older? Call the Justice Department’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311 for free help reporting it. Mon–Fri, 10 am–6 pm Eastern.
- Feeling overwhelmed? Call or text 988, any time.
Watch for a second scam. Anyone who contacts you offering to get your money back for a fee, a code, your bank details, or access to your phone or computer is a scammer, even if they say they’re the FBI, the FTC, a lawyer, or us. Don’t search online for a company’s phone number either. Scammers post fake ones.
This guide was last checked in October 2026. Sources: