DateableHow gift card scams work on dating sites
A scammer asks you to buy a gift card and send the code; once they have it, the money is gone and they disappear.
A gift card scam starts when someone you met online asks you to buy a gift card and send them the code. The moment they have the code, the money is gone and you cannot get it back. Gift cards were the payment method most often named in romance scams reported to the FTC 1, and no real business or government agency will ever ask you to pay this way 2.
How the trap works
The scammer creates urgency. They tell a story that needs money fast: a medical emergency, a plane ticket, a visa fee 3. They tell you which card to buy and where, then ask for the card number and PIN 2, usually as a photo of the back of the card.
A gift card can feel smaller than a bank transfer, less like real money. To the scammer it is cash. Once they have the number and PIN they can spend the balance straight away, and there is no bank transfer to recall.
The sugar baby version
One version targets people new to sugar dating. WA ScamNet describes it: a scammer posing as a generous partner deposits a large sum into your account, claims it was a mistake, and asks you to return it by buying Apple, Google Play or Steam gift cards and sending the codes 4. The deposit came from a fraudulent account, so it disappears, and you are left owing the money 4. If money you did not expect lands in your account, do not spend it and do not send any back. Call your bank.
Why gift cards
In the FTC's 2022 figures, gift cards were the payment method people reported most often, though cryptocurrency and bank wires made up more than 60% of the money lost 1. So gift cards are the most common ask, not the only one.
No real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay them 2. A person you met online has no reason to either.
The warning signs before you buy
A real person who likes you will not ask for money. Look for these signs that someone is scamming you:
- They ask for money before you have ever met in person
- They create urgency: a medical emergency, a family crisis, a business problem, a deadline
- They tell you the exact store and exact amount to buy
- They ask for the card code or a photo of it showing the number and PIN
- They push to move the chat to WhatsApp or another private app
- They tell stories about why they cannot meet you, but want your money instead
- Their story keeps changing, or they give you different reasons each time
Weeks of warm messages do not make the request safe. Scamwatch warns that scammers build trust first and ask for money later, sometimes after a long time 5. The long lead-up is part of the method.
If someone you have not met asks for money in any form, stop. Never send money to someone you have not met in person 5, whether they ask for a gift card, a transfer, cryptocurrency or an app payment.
How to refuse
I don't send money or gift cards to anyone I haven't met in person. If you'd like to meet, pick a day for coffee.
You do not need to apologise. Then stop replying and report the profile. A real person answers with a day; a scammer answers with a new reason it has to be now.
If you already sent the code
Contact the gift card company straight away, and keep the card and the receipt 2. If the balance has not been spent, they may be able to freeze it.
- Call the customer service number on the card or printed on the receipt
- Tell them you sent the code to a scammer and ask if they can cancel it or freeze the account
- Keep the card and receipt as evidence
- Tell your bank what happened, especially if you also shared account details
- Report the profile on Dateable and block it
- Report the scam to Scamwatch; if your identity documents were shared, IDCARE on 1800 595 160 helps with recovery 5
Do not reply to the scammer again, even to ask for the money back. Reject anyone who then offers to recover the money for a fee: scammers target people who have already been scammed 6. The guide to what to do if something goes wrong walks through the next days.
Spot it earlier
The warning signs Scamwatch lists come before any gift card: strong feelings declared quickly, pressure to move to WhatsApp, and excuses to avoid meeting or a video call 5. Ask for a short video call early. People who are real say yes. More signs are in how to spot a scam and on the sugar dating safety page.
Sources
- Fletcher, E. (Federal Trade Commission) (2023). Romance scammers' favorite lies exposed.
- Federal Trade Commission (2023). Avoiding and Reporting Gift Card Scams.
- Federal Trade Commission (2022). What To Know About Romance Scams.
- WA ScamNet (Government of Western Australia, Consumer Protection) (2026). Sugar baby scam.
- Scamwatch (ACCC) (2026). Relationship scams.
- Scamwatch (ACCC) (2026). Money recovery scams.
