Someone reaches out online. It might be through Facebook, a dating app, or even a text that seems to have gone to the wrong number. They are friendly, attentive, and seem genuinely interested in you. Over days or weeks the messages continue. They share photos, ask about your life, and check in every morning. It feels like a real connection.
Then the emergency happens. They need help. They are stuck overseas, or there is a medical bill, or a business deal has fallen through and they just need a small amount to get through until they can access their funds. Could you help them out?
The request almost always ends the same way: gift cards.
Romance scams are the costliest type of consumer fraud in the United States. The FTC reported over $1.3 billion lost in a single year, with a median loss per victim of more than $4,000. The people who fall for these scams are not gullible or careless. They are people who trusted someone who spent weeks earning that trust on purpose.
The rule that covers almost every gift card scam: No legitimate person, business, government agency, or utility company will ever ask you to pay them using gift cards. If someone you have never met in person asks you to buy gift cards and read them the numbers, it is a scam every single time.
How romance scams work
Scammers create convincing fake profiles using stolen photos -- often of real military personnel, doctors, engineers, or oil rig workers. They target people on Facebook, Instagram, dating apps like Match or Zoosk, or simply send a text to a number that belongs to someone they have researched.
The first contact is friendly and low-pressure. They ask questions, remember what you tell them, and are consistent. The relationship builds gradually. They may talk about meeting in person soon, but something always comes up: a work assignment abroad, a medical situation, a family obligation. They can never quite video chat (the camera is broken, the connection is bad). They have a convincing reason for everything.
After enough time has passed that trust is established, the crisis arrives. The ask is usually framed as temporary and with a promise to pay back. Common scenarios include:
- They are stuck overseas and need money for a flight home or a visa
- A medical emergency or hospital bill has come up unexpectedly
- They are a military member whose pay has been delayed and they need help with expenses
- They have a business investment opportunity but need a small amount to release a much larger sum
- They have been detained and need bail or legal fees
- A package containing valuables is being held at customs and requires a fee to release it
If you send money, the crisis never fully resolves. New emergencies follow. Scammers often extract money from the same victim over months before the victim realizes or the scammer moves on.
Why scammers ask for gift cards
Gift cards are the preferred payment method for fraud because they offer the scammer almost no risk. Once you read the card number and PIN over the phone, the value is transferred instantly. The money cannot be reversed the way a credit card charge can be disputed. The scammer can be anywhere in the world and redeem or sell the card values immediately. Gift card purchases are not flagged the same way wire transfers are, which is why scammers specifically request them.
Common gift cards used in scams include Google Play, Apple, Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Steam cards. Scammers will sometimes ask you to buy several smaller amounts across different cards to avoid suspicion at the store register.
Some stores now post warnings at gift card displays or train cashiers to ask questions when a customer is buying large numbers of gift cards. Pay attention to those warnings. They are there because this happens constantly.
Gift card scams beyond romance
The gift card payment demand shows up in many types of scams, not just romance. If any of the following contacts you asking for gift cards, hang up or stop responding immediately:
- Someone claiming to be from the IRS, saying you owe back taxes and will be arrested if you do not pay now by gift card
- Your electric or gas company calling to say your service will be shut off in an hour unless you pay by gift card
- A lottery, sweepstakes, or prize notification saying you have won but must pay a fee to collect your winnings
- Someone claiming to be your grandchild, calling in a panic saying they are in trouble and need bail money or emergency cash -- and asking you not to tell other family members
- A tech support caller saying your computer has a virus and repair payment must be made by gift card (see our full guide on tech support scams)
- A new boss or supervisor sending an urgent email asking you to buy gift cards for a work reason and promising to reimburse you
The IRS does not call. Utility companies give written notice before shutting off service. You cannot win a lottery you never entered. These agencies and companies have formal billing and collection processes that do not involve gift cards.
Warning signs someone you’ve met online may be running a scam
- You met online and have never met in person, despite the relationship lasting weeks or months
- They cannot video chat -- the camera is always broken, the connection is always bad, or they claim their job prohibits it
- They claim to be military, a doctor working overseas, an engineer on an oil rig, or another occupation that explains why they cannot meet
- The relationship moved unusually fast -- declarations of love or deep connection after only a short time
- Their photos look almost too perfect; a reverse image search often shows the photos belong to someone else
- They ask you to move the conversation off the dating app to text, WhatsApp, or email quickly
- They ask you to keep the relationship private from your family and friends
- Eventually they ask for money, a gift, or gift cards -- and there is always a reason why a normal bank transfer will not work
What to do if you’ve already sent money or gift cards
- Stop sending money immediately. Additional emergencies and reasons to send more will follow. Do not send anything else regardless of what they say.
- Call the gift card company right away. Use the number on the back of the card or on the company’s official website. Report the card numbers as used in fraud. In some cases the company can freeze the remaining balance if it has not been fully redeemed yet.
- Contact your bank if you sent a wire transfer, used Zelle, or shared any banking information. Explain that you were a victim of fraud. Some transfers can be reversed if you act quickly.
- Report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Your report helps law enforcement track patterns and may help other victims.
- If any software was installed on your computer or phone during the contact, have a technician check it. Scammers sometimes ask victims to install apps or programs as part of the scheme.
- Tell someone you trust. Scammers ask victims to stay quiet because isolation helps them maintain control. Talking to a family member or friend is one of the most effective ways to break the pattern.
A note for family members
If you suspect a family member is being scammed -- especially an older parent or grandparent -- approach the conversation carefully. Victims often feel genuine attachment to the person they believe they have a relationship with, and embarrassment can make them defensive. Focus on the facts: no legitimate person ever asks for gift cards. Ask to see the messages. Offer to help them do a reverse image search on the photos.
If they have already sent money, help them report it rather than focusing on what went wrong. The goal is to stop further loss and get their accounts and devices checked.
What Comp-u-Doc can help with
If a scammer asked you to download software, install an app, or give them remote access to your computer or phone, we can check your device for anything that should not be there. We also help with password changes and account security for people who may have shared personal information.
We serve all of Rhode Island including Warwick, Cranston, East Greenwich, West Warwick, Coventry, North Kingstown, and surrounding areas. We come to your home, so there is no need to pack up your device and take it anywhere.
For related scam protection and device security, see our senior tech help service and our cybersecurity page. If you think a scammer got onto your computer, text or call us at (401) 884-4432.