Anyone demanding payment in gift cards is a scammer
Someone official is on the phone — the IRS, tech support, the electric company, even the police. There's a debt, a virus, a warrant. And the way to fix it is to buy gift cards and read the numbers over the phone. Here is the one rule that never has an exception: no real organization takes payment in gift cards. Not one, not ever.
“IRS FINAL NOTICE: You owe $1,487 in back taxes. To avoid arrest today, purchase Apple gift cards for the amount owed and call 888-555-0142 with the card numbers.”
The IRS does not call, does not text, and has never once accepted an Apple gift card.
How to tell
Gift cards are the whole tell. They're untraceable cash for scammers — that's the only reason anyone demands them.
Threats of arrest, deportation, or shut-off service today. Real agencies send letters and give you time.
They keep you on the phone while you drive to the store. That's to stop you from talking to anyone who'd stop you.
The story changes if you push back, but the payment method never does.
What to do
1Hang up. You do not owe a phone call to someone threatening you.
2If you're worried the debt might be real, look up the organization's number yourself and call it directly.
3Tell the story to CheckTwice in your own words — you'll get a straight answer.
If you already clicked or paid
First: don’t blame yourself, and don’t hide it. Acting quickly matters more than anything else.
If you bought cards but haven't read the numbers out: the money is still on the cards. Keep them and the receipts.
If you read the numbers out, call the gift card company right away (Apple, Google, Amazon all have fraud lines) — sometimes cards can be frozen. Then report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
This scam works through fear, and fear works on everyone. Store clerks are trained to gently ask about big gift card purchases for exactly this reason — it's that common.
Worth remembering: No government agency, company, or police department accepts gift cards as payment. The words "pay with gift cards" mean "this is a scam" — every time.