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Home › Scam guides › Someone wants gift cards, crypto, or a wire. Is it a scam?

Someone wants gift cards, crypto, or a wire. Is it a scam?

Last updated · Written by Daniel Morton, Scam, Fraud & Prevention Consultant, Winston-Salem, NC

Short answer: Yes. Real businesses and government agencies don't ask you to pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency, a Bitcoin ATM, or a wire transfer. If anyone in North Carolina or anywhere else tells you to pay this way, stop. It's a scam.

How it works

This one shows up inside almost every scam, whether the caller claims to be a grandchild, the government, a utility, or tech support. Scammers like these payments because they're hard to trace and hard to get back.

Red flags

  • Told exactly which gift card to buy, and where
  • Asked for the numbers on the back of the card
  • Asked to deposit cash into a Bitcoin ATM

What to do

  1. If someone tells you to pay this way, stop. It's a scam.
  2. Hang up, and talk it over with someone you trust.
  3. Keep the card and receipt and report it.

If you already responded

It happens to careful people every day. Keep the gift card and the receipt, contact the company that issued the gift card right away, and tell your bank if money left your account. Then report it to the FTC and the NC Department of Justice.

Who to call in North Carolina

  • NC Department of Justice consumer hotline: 1-877-5-NO-SCAM (1-877-566-7226), or file a consumer complaint
  • Federal Trade Commission: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
  • FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov
  • AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline (free for anyone, member or not): 877-908-3360

Common questions

Do government agencies accept gift cards as payment?
No. Real businesses and government agencies don't ask you to pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency, a Bitcoin ATM, or a wire transfer.
What are red flags of a gift card scam?
Being told exactly which gift card to buy and where, being asked for the numbers on the back of the card, or being asked to deposit cash into a Bitcoin ATM.
What should I do if I paid a scammer with a gift card?
Keep the card and receipt, contact the gift card company, and report it to the FTC and the NC Department of Justice.

Sources

Take your time, and talk it over with someone you trust. There's no shame in being targeted, and reporting helps your neighbors too. This page summarizes the official warnings and news reports linked above. It's general information, not legal or financial advice.

Want an extra layer of protection? Start with the free steps above. If you'd also like to compare paid tools like identity monitoring, call blockers or medical alert devices, see our plain-language protection guide.

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