Someone asked me to pay them with gift cards. Is it a scam?

Almost always, yes: a real company, tax office, bank, the police or tech support never asks to be paid in gift cards.

A stranger who asks for a gift card code is the classic scam. Do not send the code. Once a code is given away it cannot be recovered, and a Genghis code handed to a scammer is not refundable. If you already sent it, report it to the brand that issued the card and to your local police.

By Claudio Cuccovillo, founder of Genghis. Last updated: September 25, 2026.

How does a gift card scam work?

Someone gives you an urgent reason to pay, then asks for gift card codes.

The message or call claims to come from a company, a tax office, your bank, the police or tech support. There is usually a reason to hurry: a fine, a blocked account, a problem to fix today. Then comes the request: buy gift cards and send the codes, or a photo of the cards. Whoever has a code can spend it, so the money is gone once you share it.

What should I do right now?

Stop, and do not send any code.

• Not sent yet: stop replying. The code is still yours to use.
• Already sent: report it to the brand that issued the card and to your local police. Keep the messages and your order number.

I bought the card on Genghis. Can I get a refund?

No, and we are sorry this happened to you.

Refunds cover a code that fails at first redemption, arrives incomplete or never arrives, or an order where our page showed the wrong region. Redeemed codes are not eligible, and a code given to someone else fits none of these cases. We also cannot see where a code was redeemed: once it leaves our system, we do not track redemption. The brand that issued the card handles redemption, so report the scam to the brand. Read how refunds work on Genghis or the full refund policy.

Could a message about my Genghis order be a scam too?

Yes, if it does not come from samantha@genghis.pro.

Genghis support writes only from that address. Pay only on the payment screen of your own order, and never share your seed phrase with anyone who writes to you in our name. Read how to spot a fake Genghis site, email or support account and whether Genghis is legit and safe to use.

Still stuck? Write to samantha@genghis.pro with your order number.