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Being pressured right now? Hang up. Call back using a number you find yourself. →

Someone wants gift cards, crypto, or cash

You are told to pay a bill, fine, fee, or "deposit" using gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or cash handed to a courier.

Being pressured right now?

Hang up. Stop communicating. Call back using a number you find yourself. — from a bank card, a billing statement, or the official website you type in yourself. Do not use a number the caller gave you, texted you, or that appears on your caller ID.

If you read nothing else

If you read nothing else:

  • Stop communicating, and do not move money, pay, or share codes while you are under pressure.
  • You are asked to pay with gift cards.
  • Do not buy gift cards and read the numbers to anyone over the phone or by text.

Why this is a red flag

You are asked to pay with gift cards.

No real government agency, utility, or business accepts gift cards as payment. Asking for gift card codes is one of the clearest scam signals there is.

You are asked to pay with cryptocurrency.

Legitimate bills, taxes, fines, and bail are not paid in cryptocurrency. Crypto payments are also very hard to reverse.

You are told to wire money or hand cash to a courier.

These payment methods move money quickly and are difficult or impossible to trace or undo, which is exactly why scammers prefer them.

You are pressured to act before you can think it through, often with a threat of arrest, shutoff, or legal action.

Urgency and fear are used together so you pay before checking with anyone else.

What to do right now

Do this now

  • Stop the conversation and do not make any payment.
  • Hang up, then contact the real agency or company using a number you find yourself.
  • If you already bought gift cards but have not given out the codes, keep the cards and receipt.
  • If you already shared gift card codes or sent crypto, report it right away (see What to do now).

What not to do

Don't do this

  • Do not buy gift cards and read the numbers to anyone over the phone or by text.
  • Do not send cryptocurrency to an address someone gave you during a call.
  • Do not wire money or give cash to a courier who arrives at your home.
  • Do not let anyone pressure you into paying "right now" to avoid arrest or shutoff.

What to save

What to save

  • Gift card brand, retailer, and the receipt if you purchased one.
  • Any wallet address used for a crypto payment.
  • Screenshots of texts, emails, or chat messages requesting payment.
  • The phone number or contact method used, and the date and time.

Common questions

Why do scammers want to be paid in gift cards?

Gift cards are fast to buy and nearly impossible to trace or reverse once the codes are shared. That makes them a favorite tool for scammers, and it is why no real agency or business ever asks for them as payment.

Can I get my money back after buying gift cards for a scammer?

It is unlikely, but contact the gift card company right away using the number on the back of the card. Some can flag or freeze a card before it is fully redeemed. Keep the card and receipt either way.

What is a Bitcoin/crypto ATM scam?

It is when a scammer pressures you to deposit cash into a cryptocurrency ATM and send the crypto to an address they control. Like gift cards, crypto payments are very hard to reverse, which is why scammers ask for them.

Is it ever normal for a company or agency to ask for gift cards or crypto?

No real government agency, utility, or legitimate business ever asks you to pay a bill, fine, or fee with gift cards or cryptocurrency — that request alone means it is a scam. A demand to pay that way under pressure, or to send an unexpected wire transfer, or to hand cash to a courier, is a scam sign either way. Stop and verify through an official number you look up yourself.

Where to go next

If you already sent money, shared a code, or gave access to something, go to what to do now for next steps by what happened. If money, access, or personal information was shared, you can also go straight to where to report it.

Related situations: Someone wants me to move my money , Someone wants a verification code .

Last reviewed: 2026-06-30

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