My online match asked for gift cards. Should I?
Someone I met online wants gift cards. What do I do?
Concerns & risks
You were trying to help someone you met online, but now they're asking you to buy gift cards and send them the codes.
Gift cards are a scammer favorite.
Causes & evidence
Requests for gift cards are a classic scam sign. See romance scams.
What to do
- Stop sending money.
- Stop contact.
- Report to the FTC and the dating site.
Common mistakes: Common mistakes: believing the emergency story. Real people don't ask for payment in gift cards. Once you share the codes, the money is usually gone fast. Stop sending money and stop communicating. Contact the gift card company right away to report it; sometimes funds can be frozen. Keep receipts. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Tell someone you trust. Watch for 'recovery' scammers who promise to get your money back for a fee. Save all messages and screenshots of the profile, since they can help investigators.
Speed Man tip: If you already paid, contact the card company quickly.
Wrap-up: Scam sign. Stop. Report.
⚡ Speed Summary
- Scam sign.
- Stop.
- Report.
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