How a scammer asks to be paid is the biggest clue
If someone tells you to pay with a gift card, Bitcoin ATM, wire transfer, payment app, cash in the mail, or cash or gold handed to a courier, it is a scam.
If this is happening to you right now
- Stop. Do not pay, click, or share any code or password.
- Hang up or stop replying.
- Tell someone you trust. Scammers want it kept secret.
- Look up the real number yourself before calling anyone back.
How this scam works
- The FTC says only scammers will tell you to buy a gift card and give them the numbers on the back. No real business or government agency will tell you to pay with a gift card.
- The FBI's list of warning questions for older adults includes: Have you been told to withdraw cash to buy gold or silver to give to someone? Has someone sent people to your home or told you to meet to drop off money? Has someone asked you to get cash for gift cards or to deposit in a cryptocurrency ATM, or given you a QR code to deposit money into an ATM?
- In the first half of 2024 the FTC says people 60+ were more than three times as likely as younger adults to report a loss at a Bitcoin ATM, and about 71% of the dollars reported lost at those machines were reported by people 60+, with a median reported loss of $10,000 across all ages. (Reports only.)
Warning signs
- Gift cards used as "payment" or as "protection".
- Instructions to use a Bitcoin ATM or a QR code.
- Wire transfer or payment app demanded.
- Cash, gold or valuables to hand to a courier or leave for pickup.
- Cash sent through the mail.
What to do
- Stop. Do not buy, withdraw or send anything.
- If you already paid, go to our After a scam page; each payment type has its own steps and speed matters.
- Keep gift cards and receipts; the FTC says you may need them to follow up on a claim.
Where to report it
- The company you paid with (gift card issuer, payment app, bank, ATM operator): After a scam: step by step
- FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- FBI IC3: ic3.gov
More: full reporting directory · what to do after you paid · family safety plan
Common questions
Why do scammers want gift cards or crypto?
The FTC says scammers insist on these ways because the money is hard to track and hard to get back.
Can I get gift card money back?
The FTC says contact the gift card issuer immediately, tell them a scammer tricked you, and ask for a refund. Some companies might give your money back. It is worth asking.
Sources
Last verified: October 17, 2026. We link to the original public pages. Hotline hours and agency advice can change; check the linked page.
- Avoiding and Reporting Gift Card Scams (FTC; undated page)
- Elder Fraud tri-fold (2025 data) (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3); 2026)
- Bitcoin ATMs: A payment portal for scammers (FTC Data Spotlight; Sep 2024)
- What To Do if You Were Scammed (FTC; undated page)
- What To Know Before You Wire Money (FTC; undated page)