💳 Gift card and crypto payment scams
Gift cards, Paysafecard and crypto are requested for one reason: the money is impossible to get back.
How the scam works
- A seller, 'support agent' or even a fake friend asks to be paid in gift cards or crypto.
- Gift card codes are drained within minutes and are untraceable.
- Crypto transfers are irreversible — there is no chargeback, no support ticket, no refund.
Red flags
- Any legitimate company asking for gift card payments — none ever do
- Paysafecard, Steam wallet codes or iTunes cards as 'payment'
- Wallet addresses sent in chat with urgency
- Refusal to use platforms with buyer protection
What to do
- Pay only through methods with buyer protection (platform escrow, PayPal goods & services).
- Treat any gift card request as a scam by default.
- Already sent crypto? Report the address to the platform and the police — recovery is rare, but reports help others.
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