A request to buy gift cards is one of the clearest scam signals there is. It does not matter how real the company name looks or how friendly the recruiter sounds. The ask itself is the tell.
The one rule with no exceptions
A real employer never asks you to buy gift cards. Not for equipment, not for software, not for a background check, a "training kit," or to hold your spot. Payroll, IT, and HR do not run on Apple, Google Play, Amazon, or Steam cards. If anyone in a hiring process asks you to buy gift cards and send the numbers, it is a scam, every time.
Why scammers love gift cards
The moment you read the codes to someone, the money is gone. There is no chargeback, no trace, and no bank to call for a reversal. The FTC lists gift cards among the payment methods scammers demand most often, precisely because the transfer is instant and final. That is the whole reason the request exists.
What the job version looks like
It usually arrives after a hire that felt too easy: no real interview, then a new "manager" who moves you to text, WhatsApp, or Telegram. Soon there is an urgent task - buy gift cards for "work software," a "vendor," or "equipment," and send photos of the codes. You will be reimbursed, they say. You will not be.
What to do right now
- Do not buy any cards, and do not send codes or photos of the backs.
- Stop replying to the recruiter or "manager."
- Report the account on the job board or chat app where it reached you.
- Report the scam to the FTC.
If you already sent the codes, act fast and follow the steps in I already gave a scammer my information or money. This pattern is a form of the advance-fee scam, and the full picture is in the complete guide to spotting a job scam.
Not sure about a specific message? Paste it into the free checker for an evidence-backed read in about twenty seconds.