I need to have a word with humanity for a second. How? How is it possible that in 2025, people are still getting scammed with gift cards? I mean, at what point do we just accept that some people should not be left alone with money or the internet? 2025 I get it. Scammers are scummy. They prey on fear, urgency, and confusion. But at this stage, the gift card scam is practically a meme. How do people still believe that the IRS, their boss, Microsoft tech support, or literally anyone legitimate is demanding payment in Apple gift cards? literally anyone legitimate Seriously—Apple gift cards. Like, let’s break this down logically. Imagine you’re at the checkout of a store, holding $500 worth of Google Play gift cards, and instead of questioning why “Detective Smith” from the “Federal Crimes Division” needs you to scratch off codes and send them over the phone, you just... do it? Make it make sense. Let’s Talk About the Red Flags Let’s Talk About the Red Flags At this point, if you don’t recognize a scam when it’s basically slapping you in the face with a neon sign, I don’t know what to tell you. Here are some of the classic red flags that people still fall for: recognize a scam still “Your account is locked! Pay us in gift cards!” – Right, because Amazon totally operates like a mob boss who only accepts iTunes currency instead of credit cards.


“Your grandson is in jail! Buy Best Buy gift cards to bail him out!” – Oh, sure. The American legal system now runs on PlayStation Store credit. Sounds legit.


“Your electricity will be shut off unless you pay with Walmart gift cards.” – Yeah, because energy companies are really out here running on Steam wallet codes instead of actual money.


“I’m your CEO. Go buy Apple gift cards NOW.” -Yeah, Karen from accounting, I’m sure Mr. Johnson, the millionaire CEO, needs you to rush to Target for $2,000 in iTunes gift cards instead of using his corporate AmEx.


“Tech support needs gift cards to fix your computer.” – Because Microsoft’s official payment processor is now Google Play codes instead of, you know, normal bank transactions. “Your account is locked! Pay us in gift cards!” – Right, because Amazon totally operates like a mob boss who only accepts iTunes currency instead of credit cards. “Your account is locked! Pay us in gift cards!” – Right, because Amazon totally operates like a mob boss who only accepts iTunes currency instead of credit cards. “Your grandson is in jail! Buy Best Buy gift cards to bail him out!” – Oh, sure. The American legal system now runs on PlayStation Store credit. Sounds legit. “Your grandson is in jail! Buy Best Buy gift cards to bail him out!” – Oh, sure. The American legal system now runs on PlayStation Store credit. Sounds legit. “Your electricity will be shut off unless you pay with Walmart gift cards.” – Yeah, because energy companies are really out here running on Steam wallet codes instead of actual money. “Your electricity will be shut off unless you pay with Walmart gift cards.” – Yeah, because energy companies are really out here running on Steam wallet codes instead of actual money. “I’m your CEO. Go buy Apple gift cards NOW.” -Yeah, Karen from accounting, I’m sure Mr. Johnson, the millionaire CEO, needs you to rush to Target for $2,000 in iTunes gift cards instead of using his corporate AmEx. “I’m your CEO. Go buy Apple gift cards NOW.” -Yeah, Karen from accounting, I’m sure Mr. Johnson, the millionaire CEO, needs you to rush to Target for $2,000 in iTunes gift cards instead of using his corporate AmEx. “Tech support needs gift cards to fix your computer.” – Because Microsoft’s official payment processor is now Google Play codes instead of, you know, normal bank transactions. “Tech support needs gift cards to fix your computer.” – Because Microsoft’s official payment processor is now Google Play codes instead of, you know, normal bank transactions. Google Play codes Like, I don’t know how to say this any clearer: NOBODY REAL ASKS FOR GIFT CARDS AS PAYMENT FOR A LEGITIMATE TRANSACTION. NOBODY REAL ASKS FOR GIFT CARDS AS PAYMENT FOR A LEGITIMATE TRANSACTION. The People Falling for This… I Have Questions The People Falling for This… I Have Questions I need to understand the thought process here. Let’s be blunt—if you’re falling for a gift card scam in 2025, it’s because you’re either: Too trusting.


Too afraid to question authority.


Too technologically illiterate to recognize an obvious scam.


All of the above. Too trusting. Too trusting. Too trusting. Too afraid to question authority. Too afraid to question authority. Too afraid to question authority. Too technologically illiterate to recognize an obvious scam. Too technologically illiterate to recognize an obvious scam. Too technologically illiterate to recognize an obvious scam. All of the above. All of the above. All of the above. And look, I don’t blame elderly people too much. They didn’t grow up in a world where scams were lurking in every email, text, and phone call. But if you’re under 50 and still getting tricked by this, you need a wake-up call. you need a wake-up call. If your first instinct when someone demands money is to buy gift cards, stop. Just stop. No one is coming to arrest you for “unpaid taxes” that you supposedly owe in Target gift cards. And if you think they are? Give me your phone, your computer, and your internet privileges. You have lost them. Give me your phone, your computer, and your internet privileges. You have lost them. The Worst Part? The Scam is LITERALLY This Simple: The Worst Part? The Scam is LITERALLY This Simple: Scammer: “Give me gift card codes or else.”


Victim: “Okay.”


Scammer: “Haha, thanks, idiot.” Scammer: “Give me gift card codes or else.” Scammer: “Give me gift card codes or else.” Victim: “Okay.” Victim: “Okay.” Scammer: “Haha, thanks, idiot.” Scammer: “Haha, thanks, idiot.” And that’s it. That’s the scam. No elaborate hacking. No technical wizardry. Just stupid, obvious lies that somehow still work because people are too panicked to think for five seconds. stupid, obvious lies too panicked to think for five seconds. How Are People Still THIS Gullible? How Are People Still THIS Gullible? The real kicker? These scams only exist because they work. If nobody ever fell for them, scammers wouldn’t bother. But nope. Every day, some poor fool is standing in line at CVS, loading up on $500 in Apple gift cards, convinced that their Social Security number is about to be “suspended.” they work. You know who else should be held accountable? Retail employees. The sheer number of people who buy ridiculous amounts of gift cards in a panic should set off alarm bells. If someone is at the counter shaking, buying $2,000 in iTunes gift cards, maybe ask them a few questions?! Retail employees. maybe ask them a few questions?! And don’t even get me started on banks. I’ve heard so many stories of people draining their accounts to buy gift cards and nobody at the bank says a word. If someone withdraws their life savings to buy Google Play credits, flag that transaction! flag that transaction! Final Thoughts: Stop Being Dumb Final Thoughts: Stop Being Dumb Look, I know scammers are relentless. They’ll say anything to make you panic. But at the end of the day, you control whether or not you fall for it. you control whether or not you fall for it. If someone calls you out of the blue and says you owe money in gift cards, hang up.


If you get an email saying your bank account is frozen unless you send $500 in Steam cards, delete it.


If “Microsoft Support” asks you for Roblox gift cards to fix your computer, shut it down. If someone calls you out of the blue and says you owe money in gift cards, hang up. If someone calls you out of the blue and says you owe money in gift cards, hang up. hang up. If you get an email saying your bank account is frozen unless you send $500 in Steam cards, delete it. If you get an email saying your bank account is frozen unless you send $500 in Steam cards, delete it. delete it. If “Microsoft Support” asks you for Roblox gift cards to fix your computer, shut it down. If “Microsoft Support” asks you for Roblox gift cards to fix your computer, shut it down. shut it down. This isn’t rocket science. It’s common sense. And if you lack that, I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe stick to cash under the mattress, because the internet is clearly too dangerous for you. Stay safe. Stay smart. And for the love of all things holy, stop falling for the stupidest scam on Earth. stop falling for the stupidest scam on Earth.

The is an opinion piece based on the author’s POV and does not necessarily reflect the views of HackerNoon.

This story contains new, firsthand information uncovered by the writer.

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Why Are People Still Falling For Gift Card Scams?

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