If You Paid A Scammer With Gift Cards, Is Your Money Gone? Maybe Not

SCARS NOTE: Refunds for Gift Cards are not guaranteed, but this now opens the door to possible refunds!

Portions: U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Gift Cards – Remember

Only scammers will tell you to buy gift cards, like a Steam card or Google Play or Apple Card, and give them the numbers off the back of the card. No matter what they say, that’s a scam. No real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy gift cards to pay them. Always keep a copy of your gift card and store receipt. Use them to report gift card scams to the gift card company and ask for your money back.

Did someone tell you to buy gift cards and give them the numbers? That’s a scam. Your money was gone the moment you gave someone those gift card numbers. But now, some gift card companies might be able to get your money back.

Scams with Gift Cards start with calls, texts, emails, or social media messages. The scammer pretends to be someone they’re not: a company, the government, a family member, or a romantic interest. Their message is always urgent. And they want money. They’ll tell you to buy gift cards or maybe multiple gift cards. Once you do, they’ll demand you send a photo of the card or give them the numbers on the back of the card.

How To Obtain Gift Cards Refunds

But now, some gift card companies are flagging fraudulent transactions and freezing the money of stolen gift cards so that scammers can’t get it. And those gift cards companies want to give that money back.

So, if a gift card scam happens to you, act fast:

• Report it to the gift card company. (See below) Tell them you were scammed. Give the gift card company the information from your receipt or a copy of the numbers on your gift card.
• Ask for your money back. Once you report a gift card scam to the gift card company, ask for your money back. If the money was frozen or not downloaded by the scammer, some gift card companies will give the money back.
• Tell the FTC – go to  reporting.AgainstScams.org for the link Your report makes a difference and helps #stopscams.

The faster you contact any gift card company to report a gift card scam, the better the chance of getting your money back. But it doesn’t matter when you were scammed with a gift card it is worth trying!

How to Contact Gift Cards Companies

Amazon

• Call 1 (888) 280-4331 and follow Amazon’s instructions.
• Keep a copy of the Amazon gift card or your store receipt.
• Visit Amazon’s website to learn about scams.

 American Express

• Call 1 (877) 297-4438 and follow American Express’s instructions.
• Keep a copy of the American Express gift card or your store receipt.
• Visit American Express’s website to learn about scams.

Apple, iTunes

• Call 1 (800) 275-2273. Say “gift card” to connect with a live representative. Follow Apple’s instructions.
• Ask if the money is still on the Apple or iTunes gift card. If so, Apple can put a freeze on it. Ask for your money back.
• Keep a copy of the Apple or iTunes gift card or your store receipt.
• Visit Apple’s website to learn about scams.

Best Buy

• Call 1 (888) 237-8289 and follow Best Buy’s instructions.
• Keep a copy of the Best Buy gift card or your store receipt.
• Visit Best Buy’s website to learn about scams.

eBay

• Chat with eBay customer support, or have a representative call you back.
• Keep a copy of the eBay gift card or your store receipt.
• Visit eBay’s website to learn about scams.

Google Play

• Report the gift card scam to Google.
• Ask for your money back. If the money is still on the card, Google can put a freeze on it. If you don’t have a Google account, fill out this form.
• Keep a copy of the Google Play gift card or your store receipt.
• Visit Google’s website to learn about scams.

MoneyPak

• Submit a fraud claim to MoneyPak.
• Keep a copy of the MoneyPak card or your store receipt.
• Visit MoneyPak’s website to learn about scams.

ReloadIt

• Call 1 (888) 633-9434 and follow ReloadIt’s instructions.
• Keep a copy of the ReloadIt card or your store receipt.
• Visit ReloadIt’s website to learn about scams.

Sephora

• Call 1 (877) 737-4672 and follow Sephora’s instructions.
• Keep a copy of the Sephora gift card or your store receipt.
• Visit Sephora’s website to learn about scams.

Steam

• Report the gift card scam to Steam through Steam Support.
• Keep a copy of the Steam gift card or your store receipt.
• Visit Steam’s website to learn about scams.

Target

• Call 1 (800) 544-2943 and follow Target’s instructions.
• Keep a copy of the Target gift card or your store receipt.
• Visit Target’s website to learn about scams.

Vanilla

• Call 1 (833) 322-6760 and follow Vanilla’s instructions.
• Keep a copy of the Vanilla card or your store receipt.

Visa

• Call 1 (800) 847-2911 and follow Visa’s instructions.
• Keep a copy of the Visa gift card or your store receipt.
• Visit Visa’s website to learn about scams.

Walmart

• Call 1 (888) 537-5503 and follow Walmart’s instructions.
• Keep a copy of the Walmart gift card or your store receipt.
• Visit Walmart’s website to learn about scams.

Don’t see your card on this list? Look for the company’s contact information on the card itself or research online to find out how to reach the card issuer.

If they give you any resistance, just say ‘The Federal Trade Commission says that gift cards used in scams are refundable.’ It is worthy trying, but in the end, the company that issued the card will make the final decision on any refunds.

PLEASE SHARE SO OTHERS WILL KNOW