If you’re a victim of a scam involving Play Gift Cards, here’s what you can do and need to know.
Report the scam
If you’re a victim of a gift card scam, report the scam to your local police department. You can also report the scam to the Consumer Affairs Agency hotline 188.
Next, report the gift card scam to Google. If you report the scam, it may protect you and others from similar suspicious activities in the future.
Report the gift card scam to Google
If you don't have a Google Account: To report the gift card scam to Google, use this form.
Tip: The person who reports the scam to Google must be the person affected by the scam.
How to recognize a scam
Scammers often ask you to buy a Google Play gift card and share the code to pay for something outside of Play. However, Google Play gift cards can only be used to make purchases on Play. Never attempt to pay for anything else with Google Play gift cards.
Here are some common schemes:
- You get a virus alert.
- A virus alert with a loud warning tone appears while you’re browsing the internet. The alert features a toll-free number.
- When you call, someone who may claim to be from a legitimate company asks you to buy a Google Play gift card.
- They ask you to use the gift card to pay for security software, technical support costs, or virus removal.
- Someone pretends to be from a government agency.
- A scammer calls and pretends to be from a government agency, such as the NTA. They say you owe money for taxes, fines, debt collection, or other bills.
- They tell you that to avoid arrest, prevent the seizure of physical items, or release your personal information, you must pay them with gift cards.
- The scammer claims someone you know is in trouble.
- A scammer claims to be a family member in trouble, or an attorney or other representative of that family member.
- They tell you they need to be paid in gift cards to remedy the situation. They may discourage you from contacting the family member to verify the claim.
Tip: In general, if someone asks you for a gift card code or to pay them in Play cards, it could be a scam.
Check what a gift card looks like
Avoid gift card scams
- Google Play gift cards can only be used to make purchases on Google Play. Never attempt to pay for anything else with Google Play gift cards.
- Never share the code on the back of the gift card with anyone.
Lost or stolen gift cards
Google Play gift cards cannot be resold, exchanged, or transferred for value, so we will not be able to issue you a new gift card.
Check the Google Play Gift Card Terms of Service to learn more about the limitations for gift cards.
Unfortunately, Google Play Gift Cards are also not redeemable for cash, not reloadable, and non-refundable, unless required by law.