Scam type
Gift cards, Bitcoin ATMs, gold and cash couriers
Whatever the story, most phone scams end with an unusual way to pay: gift cards, a Bitcoin ATM, gold bars or cash handed to a courier. These are hard to trace and nearly impossible to get back. No real business, bank or government agency asks to be paid this way, so a caller who asks is a scammer.
How the call works
- The caller stays on the phone while you withdraw cash or buy cards.
- They send a QR code, name a specific crypto kiosk and coach you on what to tell the bank teller.
- They ask you to read out gift card numbers.
- A courier comes to collect cash or gold, sometimes with a «passcode».
How it often sounds
- «Stay on the line while you go to the bank.»
- «Deposit the cash at this Bitcoin machine and scan the code I sent.»
- «Read me the numbers on the back of the cards.»
Typical lines described by officials and news reports.
Red flags
- Any request for gift cards, crypto, gold or cash
- The caller won’t let you hang up
- Being coached on what to say to bank staff
- A courier or a passcode
What to do
- Hang up. Any caller who asks for these payment methods is a scammer.
- If you already paid, contact the gift card company, the kiosk operator or your bank right away.
- Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.
Real cases
- Scam caseAI Voice Clone Scam: A Mother Paid $15,000 “Bail” After Hearing Her Daughter CryA Florida mother heard what sounded like her daughter sobbing, then paid $15,000 in cash bail to a courier. How the AI voice scam worked and how to stop it.
- Scam caseBitcoin ATM Scams and Seniors: Why a Caller Wants You at a Crypto KioskNo real business or agency asks for payment through a Bitcoin ATM. What the D.C. lawsuit and FBI data show about crypto kiosk scams targeting older adults.
- Scam caseFake Bank Fraud Call: How a Scammer Sent Rideshare Drivers to Collect Victims’ CashA man posing as bank fraud investigators told victims to withdraw cash so it could be “safeguarded,” then sent rideshare drivers to collect it. He got 3 years.
- Scam caseFake FTC Agent Scam: Gold Bars, Crypto and a 14-Year Prison SentenceCallers posing as FTC agents told an older victim to buy crypto and gold to “protect their assets.” A Georgia man who picked up the gold got 168 months.
- Scam caseGrandparent Scam With Cash Couriers: How a Bronx Man Was Charged for Collecting Fake BailFederal prosecutors charged a Bronx man with picking up cash from grandparents told their grandchild was in jail. How the scam works and the warning signs.
- Scam casePhantom Hacker Scam: How Victims Lost Over $6 Million in Gold BarsA pop-up, a fake Microsoft call, a fake bank and a fake government agent: how the phantom hacker scam took gold from victims aged 61 to 80.
- Scam alertUtility Shutoff Scam Calls: “Pay Now or We Cut Your Power” Is a ScamCallers posing as the power, gas or water company threaten a shutoff unless you pay now. Utilities don’t take gift cards or crypto. Hang up and call the bill’s number.
Questions
Can I get money back from a Bitcoin ATM?
It is very hard. Contact the kiosk operator and your bank right away, and report it to the FTC and the FBI’s IC3.
Does any agency accept gift cards?
No. Real agencies never ask for gift cards, crypto, gold or cash.