Money
Asked for money, gift cards, or crypto
1 report mentions this, none in the last 90 days.
Someone you haven't met in person asks you to send money, buy gift cards and read out the codes, or transfer crypto. The reason varies (a bill, a fee, a favor) but the way you're asked to pay doesn't. It's the single most common thing people report here.
What it looks like
- 'Could you help me out just this once?' with a very specific amount.
- Gift cards from a particular store, then a photo of the back with the code scratched off.
- Wire transfers, Zelle, or crypto to a wallet address, never a normal card payment.
- A small first ask, then a bigger one once the first one worked.
Why do scammers ask for gift cards?
Gift cards, wires, and crypto are like cash: once sent, they can't be pulled back, and the recipient can be anywhere. That's exactly why nobody legitimate asks to be paid that way. The story around the request is designed to make you feel needed, guilty, or rushed, so you don't stop to notice the payment method. The FTC's advice is blunt: never send money or gifts to someone you haven't met in person, no matter the reason.
What to do
- Don't send it. If it feels rude to refuse, that feeling was manufactured.
- If you already sent money, call your bank, card issuer, or the gift card company right now. Speed matters.
- Keep the messages and any receipts. You'll need them when you report it.
- Expect a follow-up from someone offering to get the money back for a fee. That's the same script, round two.
More in the tips: The four signs of a scam.