Scammers may contact you by phone, email, social media, or online and say they urgently need a quick sale. They may ask you to buy an eBay gift card and send them the gift card code as payment.
What to do if you've been targeted by a gift card scam
If you believe you are the target of a gift card scam, here's what you need to do:
- Contact eBay Customer Service immediately.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - opens in new window or tab or, if you're outside the United States, you can report the scam to your local consumer protection agency or report it to econsumer.gov - opens in new window or tab.
- Keep the eBay gift card itself and the receipt you received when you bought it. We'll need these as proof of purchase to verify that you bought the gift card.
Go to ebay.com/giftcardscams - opens in new window or tab or FTC.gov/giftcards to learn more about gift card scams and how you can protect yourself against them.
Tip
When you buy an eBay gift card always keep your proof of purchase. If you become the target of a gift card scam, we'll need your proof of purchase to verify that you bought the gift card.
How to avoid gift card scams
To avoid gift card scams, always follow these tips:
- Treat your eBay gift card redemption code like cash
- Never share your gift card code with anyone
- Only redeem your gift card at checkout on eBay.com
- Don't use your gift card to pay anyone outside of eBay
- If a seller says they'll only accept payment by gift card, don't go through with the transaction – it's a scam
We'll never ask you to email your personal information. Remember, if we need you to update your account or provide any personal information, we always send a copy of our request to your Messages - opens in new window or tab. Always check there first to make sure the email is from eBay.
Go to our gift card page to find out more about eBay gift cards.