Gift Card and Voucher Scam: How to Spot It, Redeem Safely and Protect Your Money

Gift cards and e-vouchers are one of the easiest ways to shop, send a festive gift or reward an employee. That same convenience is why fraudsters love them: once a code is shared, the value can be spent almost instantly, and getting it back is often very difficult.

The good news is that these scams follow a few predictable patterns, and once you know them, they are easy to spot. This guide explains how they work, the common types in India, how to buy and redeem gift cards safely, and what to do if you have already shared a code or paid money.

What Is a Gift Card and Voucher Scam?

A gift card and voucher scam is a fraud in which a scammer either tricks you into buying gift cards and sharing their codes, or lures you with a fake "free" gift card or voucher to steal your money, card details or personal information. The code works like cash, so once it reaches the fraudster, the balance is usually spent immediately.

These scams arrive through SMS, messaging apps, email, social media, calls and even printed letters. Some ask you to pay; others promise to pay you. Both end with your money or data in the wrong hands.

How Does a Gift Card Scam Work, Step by Step?

• The hook: You receive a message, call or post. It may promise a free voucher, a festive reward or a lucky draw prize. Or it may come from someone posing as your boss, a relative, an official or a support executive who needs help urgently.
• The pressure: The scammer creates urgency. The offer "expires in ten minutes", your "account will be blocked", or your "manager is stuck in a meeting and needs this right now".
• The ask: You are asked to click a link and log in, enter card details, pay a small "processing fee", or buy gift cards and send the codes and PINs.
• The capture: The fake page records your login, card number, OTP or UPI PIN, or the scammer receives the gift card codes directly.
• The cash-out: The fraudster redeems the codes or uses your details within minutes, then stops responding or blocks your number.

The key point to remember is simple: a genuine gift card is a gift, not a payment method for fees, fines or emergencies requested by strangers.

What Are the Common Types of Gift Card and Voucher Scams?

Fake "free gift card code" offers

People often search for free gift card and voucher codes, and scammers build fake pages, posts and "code generator" tools around them. These ask you to complete surveys, download an app, share the link or enter your login and card details to "unlock" a code. No real code arrives; you lose your data, account access or a "small verification fee" instead.

Fake brand anniversary and festive giveaways

Around festivals, sales and brand anniversaries, forwarded messages claim a popular shopping or food platform is "celebrating" with free vouchers for everyone who clicks. The link opens a lookalike website that asks for your details or payment. Genuine brands announce offers on their official app and website, not through chain messages.

Paying "fees", taxes or fines in gift cards

Some fraudsters say you have won a prize or have a parcel waiting, but must first pay customs duty, tax or a delivery charge through gift cards. Others pose as officials demanding a penalty to avoid legal action. No government department, court, police unit or genuine company collects fees, taxes or fines through gift card codes.

Impersonators asking for gift card codes

A message arrives from someone who appears to be your boss, a senior colleague, a relative abroad, a government officer or a tech support agent. The name and display picture look real. They ask you to quickly buy a few gift cards "for clients" or "for an emergency", send the codes, and promise to reimburse you later. The real person never sent that message.

Fake reward points redemption links

An SMS says your reward points are about to expire, with a link to redeem them for vouchers. The fake page collects your card number, expiry date, CVV and OTP. This is closely linked to the reward points scam, and the same rule applies: redeem points only inside your bank's official app or website.

Fake voucher codes on social media

Posts and comments share "working" voucher codes with a link. Some lead to phishing pages; others ask you to pay to "reserve" a discounted voucher that never arrives.

Reselling and marketplace scams

On resale groups and marketplaces, sellers offer gift cards below face value. After you pay, the card turns out to be used, expired, blocked or fake. In reverse, a "buyer" asks for your code first to "check the balance", then disappears.

What Are the Red Flags of a Gift Card Scam?

Watch for these warning signs before you click, pay or share anything:

• Anyone asks you to pay a fee, tax, fine, bill or deposit using gift cards
• Someone asks you to share the code or PIN on the back of a gift card
• The offer is "free" but asks for your card details, OTP, UPI PIN or login
• The message pushes urgency or secrecy, such as "do it now" or "don't tell anyone"
• Your "boss" or "relative" contacts you from a new number and avoids a phone call
• The link has spelling mistakes, extra words or an unfamiliar domain
• A seller offers gift cards at a price that looks far too good to be true

Genuine Gift Card Offer vs Scam: How Do You Tell the Difference?

How Can You Buy and Redeem Gift Cards Safely?

Buying gift cards safely

• Buy gift cards only from the brand's official app or website, your bank's official channels, or authorised stores.
• Avoid resale groups and unknown sellers offering heavy discounts.
• Keep the purchase receipt or order confirmation until the card is fully used.
• Check the gift card's terms and expiry date before you buy, so you know where it can be used and by when.

Redeeming gift cards safely

The safe way to redeem a gift card is always the same:

• Open the official app or website of the brand or issuer by typing the address yourself, not through a link in a message.
• Log in to your own account and go to the gift card or voucher section.
• Enter the code and PIN only on that page.
• Check the balance and validity on the official balance-check page of the issuer.
• Use the balance on that platform yourself; never give the code to anyone who says they will "add it for you".

Treat a gift card code like cash, and never post photos of gift cards or receipts on social media.

What Should You Do If You Have Been Scammed?

Act quickly. The faster you report, the better the chance of stopping further misuse.

• Contact the gift card issuer immediately. Call the customer care number shown on the issuer's official website or app. Share the card number and purchase details and ask them to freeze any unused balance.
• Report the fraud at 1930. Call the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. Keep screenshots of messages, links, numbers and payment receipts ready.
• Report the fraud message on Chakshu. Use the Chakshu facility on the Sanchar Saathi portal to report suspicious calls, SMS or chat messages so the numbers can be acted upon.
• Contact AU Small Finance Bank right away if you shared card or account details. Call AU Small Finance Bank's 24x7 customer care on 1800 1200 1200. You can also block your debit or credit card instantly through the AU 0101 App.
• Secure your accounts. Change your passwords, uninstall any unknown app you were asked to download, review recent transactions, and warn anyone whose identity was misused.

If you clicked a lookalike link that looked like a bank page, read our guide on fake bank website fraud for more steps.

How Can You Keep Family Members and Seniors Safe?

Seniors, teenagers and first-time digital users are often targeted because they may trust official-looking messages or want to help a "relative in trouble". A few habits help:

• Agree on a family rule: no one buys gift cards for anyone based only on a message.
• Encourage elders to call back the person on their saved number before sending money or codes.
• Help them save official helplines, including 1930, in their phone.
• Teach children not to enter personal or parents' card details to claim game credits or free vouchers.

How Does AU Small Finance Bank Keep You Safe?

AU Small Finance Bank will never ask you to share your OTP, PIN, CVV or passwords over a phone call, SMS, email or any unofficial website. If anyone claiming to be from the bank asks for these details, it is a fraud.

You can block a card through the AU 0101 App if you suspect misuse. For any doubt about an offer, reward or message, call AU Small Finance Bank's 24x7 customer care on 1800 1200 1200 before you act.

Conclusion

Gift cards are a convenient and thoughtful way to give, and there is no need to stop using them. The scams around them rely on an urgent story and a request to share a code or your details. Remember three rules: genuine offers live on official apps and websites, no real authority or employer collects payments in gift cards, and a gift card code is as good as cash. Pause, verify through a known number, and report anything suspicious at 1930.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are free gift card codes shared online genuine?

Almost never. Free gift card codes, voucher codes and "code generators" posted on social media, forums or unknown websites are usually traps. They are designed to collect your personal data, login details or card information, or to make you pay a small fee. Genuine offers appear only on the brand's official app or website and do not ask for your card details, OTP or UPI PIN.

How do I redeem a gift card safely?

Open the official app or website of the brand or issuer by typing the address yourself. Log in to your own account, go to the gift card section and enter the code and PIN there. Check the balance on the issuer's official balance-check page. Never redeem a code through a link received on SMS or a messaging app, and never share the code with anyone offering to add it for you.

Can a government officer or the police ask me to pay a fine using gift cards?

No. Government departments, courts, police and tax authorities never collect fines, fees, penalties or taxes through gift card codes. If someone claiming to be an official asks you to buy gift cards to avoid arrest or legal trouble, it is a scam. Disconnect the call, do not share any codes, and report the number at 1930 or on the Chakshu facility of Sanchar Saathi.

My boss sent a message asking me to buy gift cards. What should I do?

Do not buy anything yet. Call your boss on the number you already have saved, or confirm in person or through your official work channel. Fraudsters often copy a senior's name and display picture and message from a new number. If the request turns out to be fake, inform your manager, your company's IT or security team and report the number on Sanchar Saathi.

Can I get my money back if I shared a gift card code with a scammer?

Recovery is difficult because codes can be spent within minutes, but acting fast improves the chances. Contact the gift card issuer immediately and ask them to freeze any unused balance. Then report the fraud at 1930 or on cybercrime.gov.in with all screenshots and receipts. If you also shared bank or card details, contact your bank and block the card straight away.

Is it safe to buy discounted gift cards from resellers or online groups?

It carries real risk. Gift cards sold below face value on resale groups and marketplaces may be already used, blocked, expired or fake, and you often have no way to get your money back. It is safest to buy gift cards only from the brand's official app or website, your bank's official channels or authorised stores, and to keep the purchase receipt.

I received an SMS to redeem my reward points for vouchers. Is it real?

Be cautious. Messages saying your reward points are expiring, with a link to redeem them for vouchers, are a common phishing trick. Do not click the link. Log in to your bank's official app or website directly to check and redeem points. AU Small Finance Bank never asks for your OTP, PIN, CVV or passwords to redeem rewards.

What should I do if I shared my AU Small Finance Bank card details on a fake gift card page?

Block your card immediately through the AU 0101 App or call AU Small Finance Bank's 24x7 customer care on 1800 1200 1200. Change your net banking and app passwords and check your recent transactions. Then report the fraud at 1930 or on cybercrime.gov.in, and report the message or number on the Chakshu facility of the Sanchar Saathi portal.