$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
romance scam gift card request
An online romantic interest builds a relationship over weeks or months, then asks for gift cards as a way to help with an emergency, travel expenses, or proof of love.
“gift card scam”
↑ 29%Key indicators
Usually targetsOlder adults
Often hitsRetirees and seniors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$1.2K
median reported loss
Typical range$120 – $12K
Recovery rate~5%
Annual reports48,800
Scam breakdown
1
The scammer builds an emotional connection over weeks through a dating app, social media, or messaging.
2
Once trust is established, they present an urgent need and ask for help in the form of gift cards.
3
Gift card codes are requested via text or photo and immediately redeemed, with new requests following.
What to do first
Never send gift cards or gift card photos to someone you have not met in person.
Related terms
dating gift card scamlove scam gift cardcatfish gift card requestGift card scamsSMSRisingOlder adultsGift card buyersRetirees and seniorsTravelersUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdomdating gift card scamlove scam gift card
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Wei, 35, a older adults, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate gift card scams situation while using SMS. The scammer builds an emotional connection over weeks through a dating app, social media, or messaging.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Once trust is established, they present an urgent need and ask for help in the form of gift cards.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Gift card codes are requested via text or photo and immediately redeemed, with new requests following.
The outcome
Wei realized something was wrong when an online romantic interest you have never met in person asks for gift cards. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Never send gift cards or gift card photos to someone you have not met in person. Wei's experience shows why an online romantic interest you have never met in person asks for gift cards and they claim to need gift cards for an emergency, medical bill, or travel to visit you are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- An online romantic interest you have never met in person asks for gift cards
- They claim to need gift cards for an emergency, medical bill, or travel to visit you
- They insist on gift cards specifically because they say they cannot accept other forms of payment
- 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
- ✓Never send gift cards or gift card photos to someone you have not met in person.
- ✓Be suspicious of any online romantic interest who asks for money in any form.
- ✓Report romance scams to the FTC and the platform where you met the person.
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.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
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 romance scams are the most financially devastating consumer fraud category, with reported losses exceeding 1.1 billion USD 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.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Never send gift cards or gift card photos to someone you have not met in person.
- ✓Be suspicious of any online romantic interest who asks for money in any form.
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 romance scams are the most financially devastating consumer fraud category, with reported losses exceeding 1.1 billion USD 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
Older adults, Gift card buyers
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia
Primary channel
SMS — Gift card scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Older adults are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number 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 romance scams are the most financially devastating consumer fraud category, with reported losses exceeding 1.1 billion USD in 2023.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about romance scam gift card request
How does the romance scam gift card request work?+
The scammer builds an emotional connection over weeks through a dating app, social media, or messaging. Once trust is established, they present an urgent need and ask for help in the form of gift cards. Gift card codes are requested via text or photo and immediately redeemed, with new requests following.
What are the warning signs of romance scam gift card request?+
An online romantic interest you have never met in person asks for gift cards They claim to need gift cards for an emergency, medical bill, or travel to visit you They insist on gift cards specifically because they say they cannot accept other forms of payment
What should I do if I encounter romance scam gift card request?+
Never send gift cards or gift card photos to someone you have not met in person. Be suspicious of any online romantic interest who asks for money in any form. Report romance scams to the FTC and the platform where you met the person.
Who is most at risk for romance scam gift card request?+
This scam primarily targets Older adults, Gift card buyers. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and typically appears on SMS.
Is romance scam gift card request on the rise?+
romance scam gift card request is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA, UK, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Related scams
Similar scams to watch out for
Smishing
↑ 27%Bank verification text phishing scam
A text message claims a suspicious bank event happened and pushes the victim to a fake login page before they stop to verify the sender.
What to do first
Do not tap the link from the text.
Targets
Mobile banking users
Seen in
Global
Identity theft
↑ 17%Medical billing identity fraud
Stolen identity details are used for medical claims or treatments, leading to fraudulent bills and corrupted records for the victim.
What to do first
Review insurance explanations of benefits regularly.
Targets
Families
Seen in
U.S.
AI impersonation
↑ 52%Fake lawyer court date payment call
A caller pretending to be a lawyer uses cloned voices and legal jargon to say you missed a court date and need to pay immediately to avoid arrest.
What to do first
End the call and contact the court through its public website or number.
Targets
Older adults
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.