The FTC reiterates that gift cards are a primary payment method demanded by scammers during the holiday surge and warns consumers not to pay anyone who insists on gift cards. The guidance urges shoppers to inspect cards for tampering, keep receipts, prefer credit card payments, and report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

The Federal Trade Commission’s consumer guidance updated for the 2025 holiday season reminds shoppers that gift cards remain a leading payment channel exploited by imposters and emergency scams. Scammers frequently instruct victims to purchase specific gift cards and read or transmit the redemption codes, a method that is hard to reverse and effectively anonymizes the payment. The FTC advises consumers to examine cards for signs of tampering before purchase, retain receipts, and, where possible, use credit cards which offer better dispute protections. Crucially, the agency stresses never complying with demands to pay family emergencies, tax bills, or utilities using gift cards; instead, verify requests by contacting the company or relative through known, independent channels. The advisory also provides steps for reporting suspicious activity via ReportFraud.ftc.gov and encourages retailers to increase frontline staff awareness to block or flag suspicious bulk purchases. The seasonal notice is framed as a practical defense against predictable holiday fraud patterns that exploit emotional urgency and payment friction.