TL;DR: Gift card fraud climbs steadily from late November through New Year's as more people buy, send, and receive them, giving scammers a large pool of plausible targets and cover for unusual requests. No legitimate organization ever asks to be paid in gift cards, so treat that request alone as confirmation of a scam, and verify any urgent request from a relative or employer through a separate, known contact method.
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Gift card fraud climbs steadily from late November through New Year's as more people buy, send, and receive them, giving scammers a large pool of plausible targets and cover for unusual requests.
How the Scam Plays Out
A caller or emailer poses as a utility, government agency, relative in distress, or even a boss, and insists the only way to resolve an urgent problem is to buy gift cards and read the codes over the phone.
How to Protect Yourself
No legitimate organization ever asks to be paid in gift cards, so treat that request alone as confirmation of a scam, and verify any urgent request from a relative or employer through a separate, known contact method.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading Graduation Season Scams Targeting Grads and Parents.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see Halloween Costume and Delivery Scams.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does this typically happen?
Gift card fraud climbs steadily from late November through New Year's as more people buy, send, and receive them, giving scammers a large pool of plausible targets and cover for unusual requests.
What tactics are used?
A caller or emailer poses as a utility, government agency, relative in distress, or even a boss, and insists the only way to resolve an urgent problem is to buy gift cards and read the codes over the phone.
How can I protect myself?
No legitimate organization ever asks to be paid in gift cards, so treat that request alone as confirmation of a scam, and verify any urgent request from a relative or employer through a separate, known contact method.
What should I do if I’ve already been targeted?
Stop all payments immediately, contact your bank or card issuer to see if a transaction can be reversed or flagged, and report the incident to the appropriate consumer protection body.