Common Gift Cards Scams

There are a variety of scams that ask people to make payments via email, phone or text for items or services such as vehicles, taxes, debt collection and utility bills. Fraudsters use many methods to conduct scams, including requesting gift cards from well-known brands for payment. We want to make sure our customers are aware of scams that may request payment using Amazon.com Gift Cards.

It's important for you to know that Amazon.com Gift Cards can ONLY be used for purchases online at Amazon.com. You should only purchase Amazon.com Gift Cards on our website (https://www.amazon.com), and from authorized retailers.

Do NOT provide the details on the back of the gift card (claim code) or codes received via email for promotional certificates to someone you do not know or trust. Once a claim code is provided to a fraudster, the funds on the card will likely be spent before you are able to contact law enforcement or Amazon.

If you believe you are the victim of fraud or a scam:

• If you believe you have fallen victim to or been exposed to a scam, Contact Us to connect with a member of our Customer Protection Review team.Please note, in order for us to best assist you, we require that you sign-in to your Amazon account, or sign-up for an Amazon account if you do not have one already.
• Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which handles complaints about deceptive or unfair business practices. To learn more about common gift card scams, visit FTC.gov/giftcards. To file a complaint, visit https://ftccomplaintassistant.gov , call 1-877-FTC-HELP, or write to: Federal Trade Commission, CRC-240, Washington, D.C. 20580
• If your complaint is against a company in a country other than the United States, or you want to find information on where to report in locations outside the United States, visit http://www.econsumer.gov .

For more information on payment scams, see Avoiding Payment Scams