An Apple Gift Card is the most requested “payment” in the scam world, for a simple reason: the code on the back is as good as cash, it works instantly, and it cannot be pulled back the way a card charge can. Someone who tells you to buy one is not working for Apple, the IRS, your utility company or your grandchild’s jail. This guide covers the stories criminals tell, the second, quieter scam where the card is drained before you ever use it, and what to do if the code has already left your hands.
The phrase “Apple gift card scam” covers two quite different crimes, and most guides mention only one. In the first, you are tricked into buying cards and handing over the codes yourself. In the second, criminals copy the codes off cards sitting on a store shelf, wait for you to buy and load one, and spend the money before you do. The first is a trick on your judgment. The second is a theft that happens before you are even involved.
We built this guide around the moments that send people searching: a caller who will not hang up, a cashier asking why you are buying so many cards, a card that turns out to be empty, a parent who keeps asking for cash. Everything below was checked against Apple’s own support pages, which were updated in June, the FTC, the Department of Homeland Security and state consumer-protection offices.
Key Answers If You Only Have a Minute
Only products and services sold by Apple. Apple’s own page lists bills such as utilities, debt collection and hospital charges, plus government fees such as taxes, immigration and Social Security, as things the cards cannot pay. Anyone asking you to use one for those is running a scam.
No. The FTC states that only scammers tell you to buy a gift card and give them the numbers off the back, and that no real business or government agency ever will. That includes the IRS, Social Security, the police, utilities and tech support.
No. The number and PIN on the back are what matter, per the FTC. A scammer who has them can drain the value even while the plastic sits in your wallet. A photo of the card works the same way, so never send one.
Apple, at 800-275-2273. Say “gift cards” to reach the right team, ask whether money is still on the card and, if so, ask for a freeze. Have the card and store receipt in hand. Apple warns that funds can be spent before you reach anyone, so minutes matter.
Not guaranteed. If the value is still on the card, a freeze may save it. If it was spent, recovery is difficult. The FTC still says to report no matter how long ago it happened and to ask for your money back, since some companies help.
Apple’s guidance is blunt: if an unsolicited caller claims to be Apple Support, just hang up. Scammers spoof the real number, and Apple says it will never ask you to disable security features or read out a verification code.
Yes. Criminals copy codes from cards on store racks, then drain them after you load money. Homeland Security calls it card tampering. Check the packaging against others on the shelf, buy from behind the counter when possible, and keep the receipt.
Stop and answer honestly. Cashiers see these scams constantly, and some states now require warning signs at gift card displays. A cashier’s awkward question is often the last free chance to end the call.
Apple, the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and your local police. If the scam was online, add the FBI’s ic3.gov. If a card arrived tampered with or empty, Homeland Security’s gift card unit also wants to hear about it.
What an Apple Gift Card Can and Cannot Pay For
Apple’s own scam page is unusually clear on this, and it is the single most useful test you have. If someone wants an Apple card for anything on the “no” list, you are talking to a criminal.
| What they ask you to pay | Can an Apple Gift Card pay it? | The story attached | The truth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes or an IRS “debt” | No | “You owe back taxes and will be arrested” | Apple lists tax payments as impossible; the IRS says gift cards are never used to pay taxes |
| Social Security or immigration fees | No | “Your number is suspended” or “your case is flagged” | Government agency fees cannot be paid with Apple cards |
| Utility bill | No | “Pay now or your power goes off today” | Utility companies do not demand gift cards, per the FTC |
| Debt collection or a hospital bill | No | “Settle this account in the next hour” | Apple names debt collection and hospital bills as things the cards cannot pay |
| A jury duty fine or bail | No | “There is a warrant out for your arrest” | The FTC says threats of arrest for missed jury duty are a scam designed to steal money |
| Tech support “repair” or “refund processing” | No | “Your Apple ID was hacked; pay to secure it” | Apple will not ask for gift cards, and will not call you out of the blue |
| A prize fee or “shipping” | No | “You won; first pay the processing charge” | No honest business makes you buy a gift card to claim a prize |
| Money for a loved one in trouble | No | “Grandma, I’m in jail, don’t tell Mom” | Voice cloning can make the call sound real; call the relative back directly |
| A fake check “overpayment” | No | “Deposit this and send the extra back on cards” | The check will be fake and you are left owing the bank |
| An Apple Store, App Store or iCloud purchase | Yes | You choose to buy something from Apple | This is the only legitimate use |
In our review of Apple’s two June support pages and the FTC’s gift card guidance, we found that the two sources frame the rule differently, and the difference is instructive. Apple frames it around what its cards can buy: only Apple products and services. The FTC frames it around who is asking: no legitimate business or agency, anywhere, collects payment this way. Put them together and you have two independent tests that both end in the same place. Whether you apply the Apple test or the FTC test, a request to pay anyone but Apple with an Apple card fails.
Apple’s guidance warns that scammers often mention personal details, such as your address, your employer or even your Social Security number, to build trust. Knowing something about you proves nothing. That information is bought and sold in bulk. The real signal is the request, not the credentials: a call that moves from “a problem with your account” to “buy gift cards” has told you everything about who is on the line.
The Stories Criminals Tell to Get You to the Store
The cover story changes by the week. The structure underneath never does, and Apple has written it down.
A call, voicemail or pop-up says someone broke into your Apple account or made unauthorized charges, and the caller wants to help you stop it. Apple’s guidance describes the next moves precisely: the scammer creates urgency, tells you that you are free to call Apple back but that the fraud will continue and you will be liable (which is false, and designed to keep you on the line), and may send you to a fake sign-in page. Some scammers ask you to disable two-factor authentication or Stolen Device Protection, claiming it is necessary to regain control. Apple says it will never ask you to disable any security feature, never ask for your password, passcode or verification code, and will never ask you to tap Accept on a two-factor prompt to resolve a problem. Gift cards enter when the “fix” has a fee.
Government impersonation is the classic gift card script. The caller names a debt, a crime or a suspended record and demands payment to avoid arrest. Apple lists taxes and Social Security among the things its cards cannot pay, and the FTC says government agencies do not demand immediate payment, and never by gift card. In June, the FTC warned specifically about calls, texts and emails threatening arrest for missing jury duty, followed by official-looking documents about a warrant. The documents are part of the scam.
The FTC says that if the scammer uses voice cloning, the caller may sound exactly like your loved one, and the request comes with a plea for secrecy. The instruction to tell no one is the giveaway, because the one thing a real person in trouble would want is for you to call their family. Hang up and phone the relative on the number you already have. Agree on a family code word now, before anyone needs it.
The FTC lists utility-company impersonation among the common gift card scams: a threat to cut off your service unless you pay immediately. Real utilities send bills and notices over time, offer payment plans and do not demand payment through a card you buy at a drugstore. If you are worried, call the number printed on your actual bill.
The prize that requires an upfront payment is not a prize. The FTC says no honest business or agency will ever make you buy a gift card to pay for winnings, and asks the obvious question: did you even enter?
Apple’s guidance notes that scammers may try to build trust or show romantic interest before they ask for payments, financial help or a gift in gift cards. The FTC’s advice is simple: never send money or gifts to anyone you have not met in person, even if they send you money first. A person who loves you does not need Apple gift card codes.
You are sent a check for far more than you expected, then asked to deposit it and send the difference back on gift cards. The check will turn out to be fake. By then the codes are spent and the bank wants its money back from you.
Apple warns about misleading pop-ups and ads that say your device has a security problem, and advises that you do not call the number or follow the links. Close the window or the tab. The number goes to a call center whose job is to get remote access to your computer, and then to a payment. The FTC places this scam among the common routes to gift card payments.
The stories, side by side
| Story | Who they pretend to be | The pressure point | Your fastest test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hacked account | Apple Support or a bank | “Fraud will continue if you hang up” | Hang up; contact Apple through official channels |
| Government debt | IRS, Social Security, police | Arrest or suspension | No agency takes gift cards. Hang up. |
| Jury duty fine | Court officer or deputy | A warrant sent as an “official document” | Call the court at a number you look up |
| Family emergency | A grandchild or relative, voice cloned | Fear plus secrecy | Call the relative directly; use a code word |
| Utility shutoff | Your power or water company | “Service ends today” | Call the number on your real bill |
| Prize or sweepstakes | A lottery or retailer | A “fee” to claim winnings | Did you enter? Real prizes are free. |
| Romance or friendship | Someone you met online | Affection plus a “crisis” | Never send gifts to anyone unmet |
| Fake overpayment check | A buyer, employer or “client” | “Send back the difference” | Do not deposit; do not send cards |
| Virus pop-up | Microsoft, Apple or a “technician” | A frozen screen and a phone number | Close the tab; never call the number |
Where gift cards sit among the ways people lose money
Gift cards get the headlines, but they are no longer the biggest channel by dollars. The FTC’s most recent complete breakdown by payment method, for 2024, shows how the picture looks. Gift and reload cards accounted for $212 million in reported losses, roughly flat against the $217 million reported the year before. Bank transfers and payments, at $2.09 billion, and cryptocurrency, at $1.42 billion, dwarfed everything else. When we added the ten payment categories ourselves, gift cards came to about 4% of the dollars reported where a payment method was named. For 2025, the FTC told Congress that bank payments again led by dollars, followed by cryptocurrency, while credit cards were the most frequently named method.
The Other Apple Gift Card Scam: The Card Is Empty Before You Use It
Nobody calls you. Nobody threatens you. You buy a card for a birthday, hand it over, and the person who receives it finds a balance of zero.
When we traced the second kind of scam back to its source, we found that Homeland Security Investigations runs a nationwide effort called Project Red Hook against what the industry calls card draining. Criminals take cards from store displays, carefully open or alter the packaging, record the number and PIN, and put the card back. When an unsuspecting customer buys and loads it, the thieves spend the value first. HSI describes the tampering as a manipulation of packaging “to steal the card information before the card is sold,” and says in some cases the card shows no physical sign at all, only a balance that does not match what was paid. An HSI briefing from October 2025 said these schemes have victimized tens of thousands of Americans and caused more than $1 billion in consumer and retail losses, and listed Apple products among the most sought-after targets.
Compare the card’s packaging and PIN covering against the others on the rack. If one looks different, has a torn or re-glued edge, a scratched or exposed PIN, or a barcode that does not match, pick another and tell a manager. If you suspect a card you already bought was tampered with, contact the support number on the back of the card. HSI also asks consumers and retailers to report gift card draining; its tip line is 1-866-347-2423, and gift card fraud reports can go to [email protected], referencing Project Red Hook.
The FTC’s buying advice for gift cards is practical: shop at stores you know and trust, avoid online auction sites where cards may be fake or stolen, inspect the card and its protective stickers, and always photograph the card and the receipt. Local reporting on card draining adds two more common-sense moves: take cards from behind the register rather than the open rack, and consider a digital card sent straight from the retailer, since a digital code never sits on a shelf.
A class action in the United States over gift cards that were redeemed by third parties before their buyers could use them ended in a $1.8 million settlement, with Apple denying wrongdoing. That case concerned drained or tampered cards bought in a specific window around 2018 to 2020, and the claims deadline passed in January 2024. It was not a general fund for people who read codes to scammers. In Canada, a separate proposed settlement of $1.25 million, announced in July, concerns Canadians who lost money after handing codes to scammers, with amounts still to be determined. If you live in the United States, the live route to a refund is the report to Apple and the FTC described below.
New York has required stores that sell gift cards to post visible scam warnings near the display or checkout since mid-2023. New Jersey now requires most gift card sellers to display a state-issued consumer notice stating that no legitimate business or government agency will ever request payment in gift cards, and its law also calls for upgraded anti-fraud packaging. Other states have proposed signage and cashier-training rules. The practical point: if you see a warning poster, read it. It exists because a lot of people read out their codes at that very counter.
Pick the Situation That Sounds Like Yours
What to do depends on how far things went. Find the closest match and follow the steps in order.
Move now. First, stop talking to the person. If they are still on the line, hang up and do not take their next call. Second, call Apple at 800-275-2273 and say “gift cards” when prompted. Ask whether any money is still on the card and, if so, ask Apple to freeze it, and ask for your money back. Have the physical card, the card’s number and the store receipt in front of you. Apple states that scammers can spend the funds before you reach law enforcement or Apple Support, so the first few minutes matter more than anything else you do today.
Third, report it. File at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, call your local police for a report number, and, if the scam happened online, add the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. The FTC says to report no matter how long ago it happened, because some gift card companies are helping stop these scams and might give your money back.
Stop here. Do not read, text or photograph the numbers. If someone is on the phone with you, hang up. The cards are still yours, the value is still on them, and nothing has been lost. Keep the receipt. If the story that sent you to the store involved the IRS, a relative in jail or a hacked account, run the tests in this guide: the request itself proves it is a scam. If you are unsure what to do with unused cards, contact Apple Support with the card and receipt.
Treat the question as a gift. Cashiers are trained to notice multiple cards, the same brand at several stores, and customers on the phone while they pay. The FTC notes that scammers sometimes send victims to different stores so no one gets suspicious, and may stay on the phone with them. If you are on a call while you buy, hang up now and tell the cashier what the caller said. A cashier’s question is often the last free chance to end the call.
Do not tap the link or call the number. Apple says to be suspicious of unexpected messages that ask for personal information, passwords, security codes or money, and to contact the company directly through official channels. If you already typed your password into a link, change your Apple Account password right away and make sure two-factor authentication is on. To report a suspicious Apple-themed text, take a screenshot and email it to [email protected]. For suspicious FaceTime calls, Apple asks for a screenshot sent to [email protected].
The photo is exactly as good as the code to a scammer: the FTC says the number and PIN on the back let them take the money you loaded, even if you still have the card. Treat it as if you had handed over cash. Follow the steps for a completed scam: call Apple at once, ask about a freeze, keep the card and receipt, and report to the FTC. Do not delete the photo or the messages yet, since they are evidence.
This may be card draining, not a scam you took part in. Keep the card, its packaging and the receipt, and photograph all of it. Contact Apple Support, and report to the store where you bought it. HSI asks for reports of gift card tampering. If you notice that the packaging looks different from other cards on that rack, tell the store manager so they can pull the display. If the card was a gift, tell the person who bought it, since they hold the receipt.
Lead with respect. These scammers are professionals, and they fool bankers and engineers. Ask what they were told, who contacted them, and what has been sent. Then do the practical things together: call Apple about any recent cards, report to the FTC, and talk with the bank about a trusted contact and account alerts. The free AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 offers trained specialists, and the Justice Department’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311 helps when the victim is 60 or older. Set up a family code word for emergencies so the next “grandchild in jail” call falls flat.
Apple’s guidance specifically names scammers who build trust or show romantic interest before asking for gift cards. Stop sending anything, and do not feel foolish: the whole technique depends on a relationship that feels real. Tell a person you trust, report the profile to the platform and the FTC, and block the contact. Anyone who needs Apple gift card codes from you is not a partner.
Apple’s page is honest that funds can be spent before anyone can stop them, so a refund is never guaranteed. Still, report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, file a police report, and keep every receipt, message and number, since they may help later. If you paid for the card using a credit or debit card, ask your card issuer what options exist, though purchases of gift cards are generally hard to dispute because the merchant sold exactly what you paid for. Be wary of anyone who then contacts you offering to recover the money for a fee. That is a second scam.
It is a scam. The FTC’s June alert describes the call, the follow-up text or email with an official-looking warrant, and the demand for payment. Courts do not demand gift cards. Look up your local court’s number yourself and ask, or ignore it. Report the call to the FTC.
A proposed class settlement in Ontario involving Apple, announced in July, covers Canadians who lost value on iTunes, App Store or Apple gift cards after giving codes to fraudsters, with amounts still to be set. You do not need to file anything to remain in the class at this stage, according to the settlement notice reporting. Check the official class-action website for deadlines. Residents of the United States are not part of that settlement.
Protect Yourself, and the People You Worry About
Rules that are easy to remember survive a frightening phone call. These three fit on a sticky note.
Gift cards are for gifts. The FTC puts it in nearly those words: never buy a gift card because someone tells you to and then give them the numbers. If the person asking is not someone you are choosing to give a gift to, the answer is no. Write it on a card by the phone. Put a copy where an older relative will see it.
Apple recommends two-factor authentication, keeping your contact information current, and never sharing your password or verification codes with anyone. Apple will never ask for them to provide support. Never disable security features at a caller’s request. If you have ever typed your Apple Account details into a link, change the password now.
Let unknown numbers go to voicemail. A caller with a real problem leaves a specific message and a way to verify it. Apple notes that scammers spoof the numbers of companies like Apple, so a familiar caller ID is not proof. If a voicemail frightens you, do not call the number it gives. Look up the organization yourself.
Pick a code word that only your family knows, to be used if someone calls in an emergency. Choose one person you will phone before ever buying a gift card for any reason. And agree on a single sentence: “If anyone tells me not to tell you, that is how I will know it is a scam.”
Banks and cashiers see gift card scams in real time. Ask your bank whether you can name a trusted contact and turn on alerts for unusual withdrawals. If you are buying a card for a real gift, a short chat with a friendly cashier costs nothing. If it feels awkward, that may be the point.
The response clock
Questions Nobody Asks Until After It Happens
Because the value moves in seconds and the trail is thin. The code on the back can be redeemed or sold almost immediately, and no bank sits in the middle to reverse it. HSI’s briefing identified Apple products among the preferred targets for organized card schemes. That popularity is why Apple publishes a dedicated page about it.
Usually the party that can act is the card issuer, since only the issuer can freeze remaining value. That is why the FTC’s steps start with contacting the gift card company. Bring the receipt to any store conversation, and keep the physical card, but do not expect a retailer to reverse a sale you made voluntarily.
Yes. The FTC says to report no matter how long ago, and notes some gift card companies are helping stop these scams. Reports also feed the data law enforcement uses to track criminal networks, including the cross-border ones HSI investigates.
Because a silent minute is the one in which you might call your daughter. The FTC describes scammers who stay on the line while you drive to the store and load the cards. The call is the leash. Hanging up cuts it.
No. The scam is engineered to defeat careful people, using fear, authority, secrecy and speed. The only thing that matters now is how fast you report.
Who to Call and What Each One Does
Save these numbers now. A list you build on a calm afternoon is far easier to use than one you search for with your heart racing.
| Who | Use it for | How to reach them | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple (gift cards) | Reporting a gift card scam; asking for a freeze or refund | 800-275-2273 · say “gift cards” | Have the card and store receipt ready |
| Apple (phishing) | Suspicious emails and texts that claim to be Apple | [email protected] | Screenshot texts and email the image |
| Apple (FaceTime fraud) | Suspicious FaceTime calls or links | [email protected] | Include the number or address that sent it |
| Federal Trade Commission | Reporting any gift card scam | ReportFraud.ftc.gov | Report even if the loss was long ago |
| Local police | A report number for banks and cards | Your local non-emergency line | Call 911 if someone is at your door |
| FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center | Online or phone fraud where money moved | ic3.gov | Report quickly |
| Homeland Security Investigations | Tampered or drained gift cards (Project Red Hook) | 1-866-347-2423 · [email protected] | Reference Project Red Hook |
| National Elder Fraud Hotline | Help when the victim is 60 or older | 833-372-8311 | Weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern |
| AARP Fraud Watch Network | Talking to a trained specialist | 877-908-3360 | Free; open to anyone |
Statistics are reported complaints and losses to the FTC and figures cited by Homeland Security Investigations, and understate total losses because many victims never report. The 4% share of dollars is our own calculation from the FTC’s 2024 payment-method totals. Apple’s and the FTC’s contact details and processes can change, so confirm them on the official pages before relying on them. Settlement details in this guide describe public reporting and are not legal advice about eligibility.
This page is independent educational information, not legal, financial or law-enforcement advice, and it is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple, the FTC, the FBI, Homeland Security, AARP or any retailer. If you believe a crime is in progress, call 911 or your local police.
Key sources: Apple Support pages on gift card scams and social engineering · FTC consumer guidance on gift card scams and Consumer Sentinel data · Homeland Security Investigations Project Red Hook · state consumer-protection offices (New York, New Jersey) · AARP Fraud Watch Network · U.S. Department of Justice National Elder Fraud Hotline