The person wants me to buy gift cards or recharge vouchers. Is it a scam?
Yes. Gift cards and recharge vouchers are cash that cannot be traced or reversed, which is exactly why scammers ask for them. No employer, government office, bank, lover or friend has a genuine reason to be paid in gift card codes.
The request comes in many forms: a partner who needs a Google Play card "to keep chatting", a boss who needs vouchers for clients, a "tax officer" who accepts them as a fine. Once you send the code, the money is gone within minutes.
What to do
- Do not buy the cards. Say no and stop the conversation.
- If you already sent codes, contact the card company immediately – sometimes unused balance can be frozen.
- Call your bank and 1930 if you paid for the cards with a card or UPI from a link the person sent.
- Report the person on the platform and on cybercrime.gov.in.
Frequently asked questions
- They only asked for one small recharge. Can that be genuine?
- A small recharge is the test request. Paying it leads to the next, bigger one.
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