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Asked to pay with a gift card? It's a scam
Gift cards are for gifts. Nobody legitimate takes payment that way.
Scammers love gift cards because once you share the numbers on the back, the money is gone almost instantly and is very hard to trace. No government agency, utility or real business asks to be paid with gift cards.
If someone asks you to
- Buy gift cards and read them the numbers
- Pay a fine, bill or fee with gift cards
- Buy cards for your "boss" by text or email
If you already did
- Contact the company that issued the gift card right away; keep the cards and receipts
- Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Tell the store where you bought them
General educational information, not legal advice. Dime Wisdom isn't paid by any bank, security company or government agency.