Skip to main content

One thing we know about scammers — they want money, and they want it fast. That’s why, whatever the con they’re running, they usually ask people to pay a certain way. They want to make it easy for themselves to get the money — and nearly impossible for you to get it back.

Their latest method? iTunes gift cards. To convince you to pay, they might pretend to be with the IRS and say you’ll be arrested if you don’t pay back taxes right now. Or pose as a family member or online love interest who needs your help fast. But as soon as you put money on a card and share the code with them, the money’s gone for good.

If you’re not shopping at the iTunes store, you shouldn’t be paying with an iTunes gift card. Other payment methods scammers might ask for include Amazon gift cards, PayPal, reloadable cards like MoneyPak, Reloadit, or Vanilla, or by wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram. Government offices won’t require you to use these payment methods.

If you get targeted by a scam like this, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

Want to know more about avoiding scams? Read How to Avoid a Scam

It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.

The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

jodiedyke
August 28, 2020

In reply to by mary

my boyfriend who is in Africa now says that the iTunes card of 100 that I got him is updating his phone as I type this is he scamming me for money
Victoria
May 10, 2016
Hello I didn't use for order iTunes thanks let me know
dusty
May 11, 2016

well i fell for this i tune con 4 times from the same person.

he said he needed the i tune card to roam his phone to keep calling me. that same person sent me a check of 12000.00 wanted me to deposit it into my bank and send him the money

i didn;t do that i was out the money on the i tunes though. beware of stevelucero339            hes very good and truly loves you

Rhonda
May 31, 2016

In reply to by dusty

my name is Rhonda I just got scammed by somebody from New York City and said that I had received a government grant for $7,800 and all I needed to do is get itunes card for 250 dollars at first he said 100 I went up and got100.00 I gave him the code he said there was a problem with taxes from new york to texas so I need to send another 150 dollars so I did that he give me another number to call this number was to the federal Reserve Bank in New York Citythe number he gave me is 1-631-485-4884 her name is Kelly bell so I called her at that number and she said I had to have a additional 500.oo dollars to be sent to her because there was a transfer fee from bank to bank . So I called my bank and ask them what the fee was. When I found out how much it was the red flag came up.so everyone please be careful with these government grants that won't you to put money on itunes cards. The other person name is henry william the number is 1-315-217-5563.

Sunshine
June 03, 2016

In reply to by Rhonda

I had the same thin happen to me. Her name was Nancy Adams, then I got Sam Johnsons and Bryan Johnson.
Big Tex
June 27, 2016

In reply to by Sunshine

I just receive the same call the grant was for 8000.00 but I needed the I tune card for 200.00 I was to give the code from the card to a lady name Jessica Wilson at 845-809-4651 and go to Western union call her back and give her the code she gave me. Once told me not to mention this to the western union folks I knew it was a scam
Nero
June 27, 2016

In reply to by Rhonda

Same happened to me, first a guy called the asked me to call Jennifer at this number 3475350558 the lady asked for a $300 iTunes gift card, that's so annoying
Kathy C
June 01, 2016

In reply to by dusty

i had the same thing happen to me by steve he got me for the itune he sent me the ch for 12000.00 yes how he loved me.
golden child
September 01, 2016

In reply to by Prrayna28

He got scammed 4 times obviously the scammer don't have 1200 to give him there robbing him his money. They send a check that he will have to cash at his bank. After the check bounces his bank account will be negative 1200. Don't do what this guy does he's gullable and has money to waste. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.
Donald steer
July 31, 2018

In reply to by Kathy C

There's people pretending to be a country artist like carry Underwood and Hugh Hefner that's scamming
Mr. Mike
February 03, 2017

In reply to by dusty

Got a scam call from Alex Smith claim he was calling from the Federal Grant Department in Washington DC who transferred me to Nora extension 101 she told me in order to claim 9000 dollars I had to first purchase an iTune gift card for 250.00 to pay a registration fee. Beware of spending money to get money. Thats a sure thing that you will be ripped off left with nothing zero.
Almostgotscammed2
October 12, 2017

In reply to by dusty

This experience I just had was exactly like yours! I thought we had a good thing going. He asked me to get itune card or go to Walmart so he can reactivate his cell's roaming minutes. I didnt do as he said as I checked online about Itune cards scam and lo and behold! I found the article. Well, I don't really fall for anything involving money no matter what my feelings are for the person. He is jwalter1960@
Ivporheng
May 10, 2016
Thanks
Soniavan
May 10, 2016
They called me twice while I was trying to fill out my complaint to the FTC site. Is there not anyway to stop them? I'm getting tired of being harassed and threatened.
disgruntled
May 20, 2016

In reply to by Soniavan

Block the caller and then put your number on do-not-call-lists
Just Some Guy
May 29, 2016

In reply to by disgruntled

Do you honestly think scammers care if your number is on a "Do Not Call" list? Do you think thy care if they are breaking the do not call laws? That is like thinking criminals are going to obey gun laws...
Sick and tired…
May 11, 2016

I don't use iTunes but every time I try to use my iPad they pop up and want me to sign in. I have no credit card on file anywhere and I have iTunes turned off so what do they keep trying to get me to sign in. Please stop. I am not going to use them!

gail
May 11, 2016
i got a call yesterday may 10, 2016. from a gentlemen saying he was with the irs the number is 202-792-8975. this is getting really crazy can some boby stop this
Duped for the …
June 01, 2016

In reply to by gail

Thats the same number they calked me with today. Did as directed to avoid warrants an jail.they wanted 3500.00 only paid 1k .Only an hr later i figured scam. As IRS would want paid by other than I Tunes
FTC Staff
June 01, 2016

In reply to by Duped for the …

Please report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a database that law enforcement agencies use for investigations.

james.wild
May 11, 2016
We have noticed this trend and are wondering, how do they convert the iTunes card into money? Sell them on eBay?
Silenthill25
May 25, 2016

In reply to by james.wild

They don't there's no way to convert iTunes gift cards to cash, that's why it's super hard to get your money back when you buy the cards and give away the codes
FTC Staff
May 26, 2016

In reply to by Silenthill25

Scammers can sell an iTunes code on the black market or a gift card exchange website.  If you buy an iTunes gift card or code at a steep discount, you risk getting something that doesn't work, and losing money.  And, you might be helping a con artist make money.

CONSUMER AFFAI…
May 11, 2016

I run a municipal office of Consumer Affairs and regularly inform our residents about these scams and attempts at identity theft, as I am continually advised they are repeated regularly.

Unfortunately, most of the scammers use throw-away phones and disguise the true calling information so IRS, FTC and other government organizations cannot find and prosecute many of them. The callers are getting more abusive and their threats are a signal that they are trying to scam you. Merely hang up and try to report them to the proper authorities as both IRS and FTC have scam-reporting contacts. NEVER give any personal information to strangers and NEVER respond by using gift cards or Western Union payments. Also, NEVER cash a check sent you from an unknown source, as this is another way scammers get information for identity theft.

sprink4669
June 03, 2016

In reply to by CONSUMER AFFAI…

Yeah. This Itunes gift card thing is the newest scam. They claim to be with the US Government and tell you that you qualify for a 7800$ grant for the next 5 years. They get you to buy $500 gift cards for one payment after another and never actually let you get your grant money. They got me for over $2600. As a 66 yo. retiree now all my pension check money is gone and I will have to go to the bank to get a loan to pay my bills. These people need to be locked up!

FTC Staff
June 03, 2016

In reply to by sprink4669

Please report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The details of what happened to you are important. Please add them to the database that law enforcement uses for investigations.

LEG
June 27, 2016

In reply to by FTC Staff

If so many people are being scammed with iTunes cards, how come you are not pushing itunes to let these unused cards be returned. My mother was scammed and now i cannot return or even re-sell the iTunes cards - nobody uses them any more and there is a glut. These were purchased at Toys R Us - they should accept returns.
FTC Staff
June 27, 2016

In reply to by LEG

If you gave someone the code on the back of the iTunes cards, you can contact Apple Support and ask them to disable the cards, if the value hasn't been used yet.

If the cards still have value, you can return to the store that sold you the cards. File a report with their fraud department, and ask the store for a refund.  You can also contact Apple Support and explain that you have unused cards and want a refund.

tbone
August 30, 2016

In reply to by sprink4669

how is it that the scammers can easily use the itune cards to get your money but if you have them you can't do s . . . with them???
Lesson Learned
September 13, 2016

In reply to by CONSUMER AFFAI…

I have an app called Mr. Number that has helped me track the exact address of the number that the scammers called me from. I just found out more of the features of the app and it is great! I was scammed out of $1192 this year in July and now I know where they called me from. The numbers are or were 315-544-1301 for a "Mr. Neil Foster", and 315-288-8693 for a "Ms. Lia Lusher" they told me that they are located at 63 Liberty Street New York, NY. Well, I just went through my Mr. Number app and mapped them out to be located at 719 Alexandria Street Carthage, New York 13619. I hope and pray that the proper official US Government Authorities can help me get my money back. I can't get to these thieves as easy as they can. And I need to pay for a lawyer which I do not have money for.
Rose97
May 11, 2016
Mine is a government grant organization n apparently I've been selected n crap n now they are txting me and I am pretty sure if it was really the government I'm sure the wouldn't be txting me and asking for an I tunes card or grams
Orlando F
May 11, 2016

I have been receiving calls from different "companies " some time 3 4 times from a diff. Far State, they usually ask if I need a loan, how much debt I have, and they told me that with their system I will reduce dramatic my debt in credit cards, them they ask me if I have cash or a savings account, I usually don't pay attention and hang up the telephone.

Other offered a "Grant" to buy a house, and ask a fee to be charge to my credit card of $29.95 for the first month and $36.00 for the next months service, If I receive a "Grant " denial them I call them and reimburse first month, and cancell next future payments.

What I really think is that scanners target specific people like Seniors, or somebody that really helps to purchase a house, rent,, etc. or need cash flow, they will offer "services" try to sell anything or invent anything to take money of people that really need help and with not good intentions, try to take out money and rip-off good citizens in need for help and assistant.

I warm my 3 credit bureaus And report a warning for somebody trying to access my record. Also I enroll in the Federal Trade program for warming advise. I think that we need to work more to Improve this area, because somebody "desesperate" can give info. or send transfer payments, or credit card number, waiting for a help that it will arrive. My regards, Thank you for your interest in this seriou situation.

Lola25
May 12, 2016

A man contacted me by fb. He asked that I tell no one about him. And to use msg on fb.He goes by name Ogiebarret Barret. He claims to be from Uk. He wants me to send money to UK for personal inheritance. He becomes es extremely mad if I stall or say no to any requests for money to send to Guyana. He is also on romance scams.       only 7nder another name. Ladies beware of this romantic fool who will want to marry you 8n a week.

garciafernando
May 12, 2016

hello good morning my name is fernando g    i am from  nj    i am talking to anne haster she offer me i chevrolet suburban 2007 from the autoshop magazine i pay whit i tunes gifts the first times says by 6 i tunes $500 aech one by cash

and them she text me back she whants 3 more for ansurance to move the truck but i refuse to by more i tunes,and them on ebay page i have my order id 34505882757

i call ebay number informtion says i missing digit supose the truck by here on 3 days shipping

all this happens star on march 28 2016 and she offer more products because she is military and trying to go to brigade combat team back to south korea replaicing the troops scheduled to come home her phone number is 866949177 whit addres    piedmont, sd 57769  i trying to call back for more information but nothing

FTC Staff
May 12, 2016

In reply to by garciafernando

This sounds like a scam. When you give someone an iTunes card, they can take the money right away. Some criminals take your money and give you nothing.

You say you found the car in a magazine. You could make a complaint to the magazine and ask for help. If you found the car  online, you can make a complaint to the website customer service. You can make a complaint to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you give to FTC goes to other law enforcement agencies.

You can make a complaint to the FTC in English or Spanish.

marihoop
July 02, 2016

In reply to by garciafernando

This is a scam. Do not purchase the ITunes Gift Cards. We just found out the person who was trying to sell a car to my son has already scammed others. I'm sure it's not even the person's name but the name they're using is Selena Nolan. And she's selling her dead husband's Maxima for $1500. Somehow it ended up at Ebay. We were told to buy a ITunes Gift Card and load $1500. Then we had to email the 16 digits and a copy of the gift card to her. Since it sounded so strange we decided to research and look online. That's when we saw the full FAKE story online about Selena Nolan. PLEASE BEWARE. Always be suspicious especially if they want you to purchase using gift cards. It doesn't even make sense!!!
Disappointed
July 16, 2016

In reply to by marihoop

I wish I knew I was also scammed by Selena Nolan same story this has to stop I'm on disability
Scammed in Florida
May 13, 2016
Beware of calls from loved ones in a distraught state saying they are in jail or something similar. These scammers have an answer for everything, after I was convinced I had been speaking with my grandson who needed $4000 for bail was given instructions to buy ITunes gift cards in $500 increments. I was so emotional by then I did as they said. Only after completing the transaction, and my mind was at ease did I start thinking clearly and within a few minutes realized I had been scammed. Too Late!! Cannot recover from Apple Store or Credit Card company as I had willingly given the information to the scammers. In hindsight there were red flags all over the place. I prided myself on being aware of phone scams and email scams, etc., this episode took over my emotions, again, BEWARE!! Called the telephone number given to me in the process and it was answered "San Antonio Police Dept.", which I know is easy to do. Understand that scammers use throw away phones so they can't be traced. I called the number this morning and to my surprise it was answered by Capt. John Rockfield the number is 1-888-539-6917. He was the person I was in contact through the whole episode. Didn't go into all the details, but they were very slick, had all the basis covered. All I know to do now is spread the word as best I can in hopes of helping someone else from falling victim, check your emotions, and THINK!!.
ctressler
May 13, 2016

In reply to by Scammed in Florida

Thank you for sharing your experience. Scammers may pose as relatives or friends, calling or sending messages to urge you to wire money immediately. They’ll say they need cash to help with an emergency — like getting out of jail, paying a hospital bill, or needing to leave a foreign country. Their goal is to trick you into sending money before you realize it’s a scam. For more information, please see (and share), Family Emergency Scams.

And for a variation on this scheme, check out Attention Grandparents: Watch out for phony debt collectors.

Sirillo
July 17, 2016

In reply to by Scammed in Florida

They might have got all your info from Facebook. Please make sure your Facebook us locked down by making all your pictures,friend list,and about either private or just family and friends. That is probably how they knew your grandsons name.
Famullar
May 13, 2016
It is sad we still have these
Janice54
May 16, 2016

I was scammed for 200.00 dollars. on a I tune card. Is there any way I can redeem my money refunded to me.

FTC Staff
May 16, 2016

In reply to by Janice54

If you use an iTunes card to send money, it's like sending cash. The person who gets the card can take the value immediately. If you want a refund after you give a card, you have to ask the person you gave the card to.

SV
May 17, 2016

In reply to by FTC Staff

Hi Bridget, I just got a call from one of my friend who was tricked in to this scam. He already did send few iTunes card numbers to these people and they are asking him to do for $1500 more. My friend does not have any idea on what's happening and he called now which is when i told him that this is a scam and do not call them again. They are trying to call him and they will surely respond to him if he calls them now. I asked him to file a complaint. But we would like to know if there is any way we can trick them to get his money back or get their details so the police can catch them? Please point us in a direction here. They have been calling from different numbers and the latest number they want him to call is 646-627-9389.
FTC Staff
May 17, 2016

In reply to by SV

If you use an iTunes card to send money, it's like sending cash. The person who gets the card can take the value immediately. If you want a refund, you have to ask the person you gave the card to.

You friend can report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint, and give as many details as he can. The details help law enforcement investigations.

If the scammers said they were calling from the IRS, your friend can also report to the Treasury Inspector General for Taxpayer Administration (TIGTA) at 800-366-4484.

SV
May 17, 2016

In reply to by FTC Staff

Bridget, Thanks for responding. I happened to be part of the conference call with these scammers yesterday when my friend invited me to join and they said they are calling from Federal Government Reserve Bank New York and used the New York number 646-627-9389 and before this call it was from 315-217-5098. They said that my friend was picked up along with other 100's of survey participants and were the winners of "The American Recovery and Reinvestment" Act of 2009 (ARRA) grant and is one of the lucky winner for ~$9,000 sweepstakes amount. My friend remembers taking a survey related to how satisfied he was with current president Mr. Barack Obama or something similar few months back. I asked him to find the survey request email he received but he said he might have deleted and he could not find it. I believe the email that he received may be from these scammers. I wanted to hear all the crap they talk so we kept on listening to their story. By then they have already redeemed the iTunes store card my friend provided earlier and they said that his money is currently with Virginia state secretariat. When asked why, he said they are the one who will release the grant. He continued saying that since my friend's bank account does not currently have 15% of the grant he is going to receive which is a minimum (not sure why), he said my friend will need to transfer $1500 more worth and after which he will then in total receive all the money at once and will get deposited instantly. I kept on asking questions to see what else they got. When he insisted on why I have trouble believing him, I have requested him to kindly return my friends money and then we would be able to believe him and he said he cannot which is when I started scolding them and he hung up. These guys had south Asian accent and they are actually multiple people doing the same thing and I was able to hear all their voices in the background. I just cannot believe how my friend fell for this crap. I asked him to file a complaint at FTC.gov/complaint with all the details. Please let me know if there is anything else you would like us to do. I sincerely hope they get caught soon. Thank you!
FTC Staff
May 17, 2016

In reply to by SV

Thank you for letting us know the details of the call. Your comments will help people who read the blog, and help us with education.

I hope your friend will report all this at FTC.gov/complaint, and to the wire transfer company and his bank, if the scammers got his bank account number. He doesn't need to give the FTC his personal information if he doesn't want to, but the details of the scam are important to law enforcement agencies for investigations.

If your friend shared any personal information (bank or credit card numbers, social security number) with the scammers, he can go to IdentityTheft.gov and get tips on how to protect his information. He can also alert his bank and credit card company and ask them how to protect his accounts.

Also, please warn your friend that scammers often sell the names of their victims to other criminals. He may get more calls and emails with scam pitches, or even offers to help him "recover" the money he lost. Those "recovery" calls are really scams in disguise; don't send money to get money.

Ms504
May 25, 2016

In reply to by SV

I had the same incident calling from the same number saying his name is Max William I confronted him cause I relieved after I sent $810 and now he is telling me I have to wait til next year taxes to get my money back. So now he keeps calling my phone even when he's on block r rejected leaving voicemails..