Gift Card Scams

Gift Cards scam awareness.

Get informed. Not taken. 

Protect yourself against fraud by knowing the facts. 

  • The government will never:
  • Ask you to pay off a fine, balance, or supposed debt with gift cards
  • Ask you to pay anything up front to get money, a credit, or a refund
  • Demand that you pay a debt immediately
  • Call and ask for your Social Security number, bank account information, or credit card number
  • Threaten to arrest you or withhold services for not providing personal information or ask you to purchase gift cards
  • Stay with you on the phone while you purchase gift cards or encourage you to visit several stores to make multiple purchases
  • Ask you to provide gift card numbers and codes over the phone. Once the scammers have these details, your money is gone
 
Additional Tips on staying safe, including: Do not wire funds or purchase and provide details from a prepaid card.

Been scammed?
File a complaint today.

The Attorney General’s Office is here to help. If you paid a scammer with a gift card, file a consumer complaint online right now. You can also call:

Phoenix: (602) 542-5763

Tucson: (520) 628-6648

Outside metro areas: (800) 352-8431

Bilingual consumer protection staff is available to assist.

File a Consumer Complaint