If They Insist on Gift Cards, Crypto, or a Bank Transfer, It Is a Scam
The FTC says the fastest way to spot many scams is to notice how someone demands payment. If they push gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, payment apps, or bank transfers, stop right there.
The Federal Trade Commission posted a useful reminder on July 22: one of the clearest scam warning signs is not just what someone says, but how they demand to be paid. If a caller, texter, email sender, or pop-up message says you must pay with a bank transfer, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, a payment app, or gift cards, the FTC says that is a scam sign.
This matters because these payment methods are hard to reverse. Once money is sent, it can be gone quickly. That is why scammers love them. They may pretend to be your bank, the IRS, Medicare, a delivery company, a computer support worker, or even a family member in trouble. The story changes, but the payment pressure is the same.
The simple rule
If someone contacts you unexpectedly and says you can only pay one of those ways, do not do it. Hang up, stop texting, or close the message. Then look up the real phone number or website yourself and check the claim directly.
What to do instead
Use a credit card when possible because it usually offers better fraud protection. If you already sent money, contact the bank, card company, payment app, or crypto platform immediately and tell them it was fraud. Then report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.