How to spot a gift card scam, with help from AI

If someone asks you to pay with gift cards, stop. Here's how to check, what to say, and what to do next.

Here is the one rule to remember: real companies, government offices and banks do not ask you to pay with gift cards. If a call, text or email tells you to buy gift cards and read out the numbers, it's a scam. An AI chat app like ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude can help you check a message that seems off and plan what to say.

Step 1: Know the usual stories

Scammers often pretend to be the government, a utility saying your power will be cut off, tech support, a boss, or a grandchild in trouble. They make it urgent and ask you to keep it secret.

Ask AI: "What are the most common gift card scam stories, and what do they have in common? Explain in plain words for someone who is 75."

Step 2: Check a message before you do anything

Copy the text or email, remove your name, address and any account numbers, and paste it in. Ask: "Does this look like a scam? What are the warning signs? What should I do next?"

AI can miss things, so the rule wins: if it asks for gift cards, don't pay. Call the company or person yourself using a number you already have, not one in the message.

Step 3: Plan what to say

Scammers keep you on the phone. Have a line ready.

Example: "Write 3 short, polite things I can say to end a call when someone asks me to buy gift cards, and remind me to hang up."

Practice them out loud once.

Step 4: If you already paid

Act fast. Call the phone number on the back of the gift card and tell the company it was used in a scam, and keep the card and your receipt. You can also report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Ask AI to help: "Help me write down what happened, in order, with times, so I can report a gift card scam." Don't feel ashamed. These scams fool careful people every day.

Step 5: Help someone you love

Worried about a parent or friend? Ask AI to help you start the talk kindly.

Example: "Help me explain gift card scams to my mom in a friendly way, without making her feel foolish, in 4 sentences."

Our guide to hard conversations has more.

Things to know

Never read gift card numbers to anyone over the phone or send a photo of the back of a card to someone who asked for payment.
Don't paste bank details, card numbers, passwords or your Social Security number into an AI chat. You don't need them to check a message.
Gift cards are fine as gifts. The problem is only when someone wants them as payment.