Protecting the Rights of Consumers For Over 25 Years

There are an increasing number of scams in which someone calls the victim and demands immediate payment on some pretext, to be made in gift cards purchased at Best Buy, Walmart, etc. The victim is told to provide the numbers of the gift cards so the scammer can redeem them. The Federal Trade Commission states that the number of such scams has quadrupled over the last several years, and that more than 25% of scam victims parted with their money in this manner.

No legitimate creditor or debt collector ever demands or accepts payment in gift cards. The only reason for demanding payment by gift cards is that unlike cash, they do not require personal delivery, and unlike checks, credit cards, and debit cards, they are not easily traceable or cancellable.

If someone calls insisting that you pay them with a gift card, don't.