Scams going around · Phone calls
Gift card payment scam
Pretends to be a government agency, tech support, a utility or a relative. A caller says you owe money or someone is in trouble, and tells you to go buy gift cards right away. They want the numbers on the back of the cards, because those numbers let them take the money.
An example of what it can look like
Not a real message: the details are made up.
Caller ID: SOCIAL SECURITY (202) 555-0162
This is Agent Mike with the Social Security Administration. Your Social Security number has been suspended. To avoid arrest today, go to a store now and buy gift cards. Stay on the line with me, and don't tell the cashier what they're for. Then scratch off the back and read me the numbers.
How to tell
- They tell you to pay a bill, fine or fee with gift cards, like Apple, Google Play, Amazon, Target or eBay cards. No real business or government agency will ever ask you to pay that way.
- They want the card number and PIN (the numbers on the back of the card), or a photo of the card.
- They say it's urgent: pay now or something terrible will happen, like an arrest or your power being cut off.
- They tell you which cards to buy and which store to go to, such as Walmart, Target, CVS or Walgreens. They may stay on the phone while you shop.
- They tell you not to tell anyone, or to buy cards at several stores so the cashier won't ask questions.
What to do
- Hang up. You don't owe the caller an explanation.
- Don't buy the gift cards. Never buy a gift card because someone tells you to, and never give them the numbers on the back.
- Don't trust caller ID (the name or number your phone shows). It can be faked to show a real agency's name.
- If you're worried, call the agency or company yourself, using a number you know is correct, like the one on a bill or letter you already have.
- If the caller says a family member is in trouble, call that person yourself to check that they're all right.
If you already tapped, paid, called or replied
- Contact the gift card company right away, even if it happened a while ago. Tell them a scammer got the numbers, and ask for your money back.
- Look for the company's contact information on the card itself. The FTC's gift card scams page on consumer.ftc.gov also lists how to contact many gift card companies.
- Paid with an Apple gift card? Call Apple at 1-800-275-2273 and say "gift cards." Ask if the money is still on the card. If it is, Apple can freeze it.
- Keep the gift card and the store receipt. You can also take a picture of both with your phone. They help you report the scam to the gift card company.
- Stop talking to the caller, and don't buy any more cards.
How to check for real
Hang up. Then call the agency or company yourself, at a number you know is correct. Use one from a bill or letter you already have. If the caller said they were from Social Security, call your local Social Security office directly. You can find its number on the Social Security Administration's website. If the caller said they were from the IRS, you can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
Where to report it
- The gift card company, right away (the FTC's gift card scams page lists how to contact many of them)
- Apple at 1-800-275-2273 (say "gift cards" when asked), if it was an Apple gift card
- The FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Free guides that go with this
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Where this comes from
Written from these official warnings, checked 2026-09-25. Lantern is not part of any organization named on this page.