$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
executive gift card request scam
Scammers impersonate a company executive and ask employees to urgently purchase gift cards for clients, employees, or events, then request the card numbers and PINs.
“email scam”
↑ 1%Key indicators
Usually targetsAdministrative assistants
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$60K
median reported loss
Typical range$6.0K – $600K
Recovery rate~15%
Annual reports21,489
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers spoof an executive's email address and send a message to an employee asking them to buy gift cards
2
The request is framed as urgent, for a client gift, employee reward, or charitable donation
3
Once the employee purchases the cards and sends the numbers, the scammer redeems them immediately
What to do first
Always verify gift card requests by speaking directly with the executive who supposedly sent the email
Related terms
boss gift card scamexecutive gift card requestgift card BECBusiness email compromiseEmailStableAdministrative assistantsOffice managersEmployeesFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadaboss gift card scamexecutive gift card request
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Carlos, 35, a administrative assistants, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate business email compromise situation while using Email. Scammers spoof an executive's email address and send a message to an employee asking them to buy gift cards
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The request is framed as urgent, for a client gift, employee reward, or charitable donation
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Once the employee purchases the cards and sends the numbers, the scammer redeems them immediately
The outcome
Carlos realized something was wrong when email from a manager or executive urgently requesting gift card purchases. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Always verify gift card requests by speaking directly with the executive who supposedly sent the email Carlos's experience shows why email from a manager or executive urgently requesting gift card purchases and request asks you to send photos of the gift card numbers and pins via email are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Email from a manager or executive urgently requesting gift card purchases
- Request asks you to send photos of the gift card numbers and PINs via email
- Sender asks you to keep the purchase confidential or as a surprise
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Always verify gift card requests by speaking directly with the executive who supposedly sent the email
- ✓Recognize that no legitimate business process requires buying gift cards and sending codes via email
- ✓Report the email to your IT security team and the FBI IC3
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Keep the full sender address, domain, attachments, and—if possible—the raw email headers.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FTC reports that gift cards are the payment method of choice for scammers, with consumers reporting over 217 million USD in gift card fraud losses in 2023
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Always verify gift card requests by speaking directly with the executive who supposedly sent the email
- ✓Recognize that no legitimate business process requires buying gift cards and sending codes via email
- ✓Report the email to your IT security team and the FBI IC3
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FTC reports that gift cards are the payment method of choice for scammers, with consumers reporting over 217 million USD in gift card fraud losses in 2023
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Administrative assistants, Office managers, Employees
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada
Primary channel
Email — Business email compromise
Why this group is vulnerable
Administrative assistants are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The ongoing nature of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FTC reports that gift cards are the payment method of choice for scammers, with consumers reporting over 217 million USD in gift card fraud losses in 2023
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about executive gift card request scam
How does the executive gift card request scam work?+
Scammers spoof an executive's email address and send a message to an employee asking them to buy gift cards The request is framed as urgent, for a client gift, employee reward, or charitable donation Once the employee purchases the cards and sends the numbers, the scammer redeems them immediately
What are the warning signs of executive gift card request scam?+
Email from a manager or executive urgently requesting gift card purchases Request asks you to send photos of the gift card numbers and PINs via email Sender asks you to keep the purchase confidential or as a surprise
What should I do if I encounter executive gift card request scam?+
Always verify gift card requests by speaking directly with the executive who supposedly sent the email Recognize that no legitimate business process requires buying gift cards and sending codes via email Report the email to your IT security team and the FBI IC3
Who is most at risk for executive gift card request scam?+
This scam primarily targets Administrative assistants, Office managers, Employees. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and typically appears on Email.
Is executive gift card request scam still active?+
executive gift card request scam is currently on our watch list. It has been reported across US, UK, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Related scams
Similar scams to watch out for
Employment fraud
↑ 80%Fake job offer advance payment scam
A victim receives what looks like a legitimate remote job offer and is asked to pay upfront for equipment, training, or background checks.
What to do first
Verify the recruiter and company domain independently.
Targets
Job seekers
Seen in
Global
Employment fraud
↑ 100%Reshipping assistant work-from-home scam
A new hire is told to receive packages at home and forward them using labels provided by the employer.
What to do first
Do not handle goods or forward packages for an employer you cannot verify.
Targets
Job seekers
Seen in
Global
Employment fraud
↑ 80%Interview task equipment cheque scam
A fake employer sends a cheque for equipment during the interview stage and asks the candidate to forward part of the money to a vendor.
What to do first
Do not deposit employer cheques tied to urgent vendor payments.
Targets
Students
Seen in
U.S.
Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
Relevant collections