Boss Gift Card Request Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers impersonate your boss or CEO via email or text, urgently requesting gift card purchases. Once you send the codes, the money is stolen instantly.
emailsmswhatsapp
→8 confirmed active threats
💳Payment & BEC Scams
Payment scams exploit Zelle, Venmo, gift cards, wire transfers, and fake checks. Business Email Compromise (BEC) alone caused $2.77B in losses across 21,442 complaints in 2024. Scammers love these because transfers are instant and irreversible. Seniors 60+ lost $385M to BEC alone.
$2.8Bin reported losses, 2024(IC3)21 442 complaints
9
Patterns Documented
8
Confirmed Threats
1
High Risk
$16.6B
Reported Losses, 2024 (IC3)
Data sourced from FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report. Data reflects complaints submitted to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and may not represent all incidents. ZeroScam is an educational tool and is not affiliated with the FBI.
Filter by Category
Clear filter ×All Patterns (85)₿ Cryptocurrency Scams(4)$6.6B💳 Payment & BEC Scams(9)$2.8B💻 Tech Support Scams(5)$1.5B🔓 Personal Data Breach(2)$1.5B🛒 Online Purchase Scams(5)💔 Romance Scams(3)🏛️ Government Impersonation(6)🏢 Corporate Data Breach(3)💼 Job & Employment Scams(6)🏧 Crypto ATM & Kiosk Scams(3)🥇 Gold Courier Scams(2)🪪 Identity Theft(3)🏠 Rental Scams(2)🔒 Extortion & Blackmail(1)🎰 Prize & Lottery Scams(1)🎣 Phishing & Smishing(3)📦 Delivery & Shipping Scams(4)🎭 Impersonation Scams(4)🤖 AI-Powered Scams(5)📱 Social Media Scams(2)📞 Telemarketing Scams(1)🏥 Healthcare Scams(1)🏦 Financial Service Scams(2)🔧 Service Provider Scams(2)🎗️ Charity Scams(1)🗳️ Election & Civic Scams(2)🧬 Synthetic Identity Fraud(2)🔄 Recovery Scams(1)
Threat Levels
CONFIRMED THREAT— Actively reported to FBI IC3
HIGH RISK— Significant victim reports
EMERGING— Recently identified pattern
CEO Wire Transfer Fraud (BEC)
CONFIRMED THREAT
Criminals impersonate executives to trick finance employees into wiring money. FBI IC3: 21,442 complaints in 2024, $2.77 billion in losses.
email
→Zelle Payment Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers trick victims into sending money via Zelle through fake bank fraud alerts or overpayment schemes. Zelle transfers are instant and irreversible.
phonesmsemail+1
→Venmo Payment Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers exploit Venmo through fake payments from stolen accounts, phishing, and "accidental" transfer refund requests.
emailsmsmarketplace
→Fake PayPal Invoice Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers send fake PayPal invoices for purchases you never made. The phone number connects to scammers who steal info or install malware.
email
→Fake Check Overpayment Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers send a check for more than agreed, then request you wire back the "extra." The check bounces days later—you owe the bank everything.
emailmarketplacemail
→Facebook Marketplace Payment Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers use fake payments, overpayment schemes, or shipping fraud on Marketplace. Cash and local meetup is safest.
facebookmarketplace
→Gift Card Tampering Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Criminals tamper with gift cards in stores, copying numbers. When you activate the card, they drain the balance instantly.
retail store
→Apple Pay / Google Pay Request Scam
HIGH RISK
Scammers send payment requests via Apple Pay or Google Pay for items you never purchased, hoping you approve without checking.
phoneemail
→Common Questions About Payment & BEC Scams
Why do scammers ask for gift cards?▼
Gift cards are untraceable instant cash. Once you read the codes, money is gone in minutes. No legitimate entity ever asks for gift card payment.
Can I get money back from Zelle scams?▼
Usually no. Zelle is instant and irreversible. Banks rarely refund "authorized" transfers. Report immediately but prepare for loss.
How do fake check scams work?▼
Scammer sends check for more than owed, asks you to wire back extra. Check bounces weeks later — you owe the bank everything.
My boss texted asking for gift cards — real?▼
Almost certainly fake. Call your boss on a known number to verify. Scammers research companies and impersonate executives.
📖 How to Use This Database
- ✓Browse patterns to learn scammer tactics before you encounter them
- ✓Share specific pattern pages with family members who may be targeted
- ✓Use our scanner to check suspicious messages against all 85 patterns
- ✓Report scams to FBI IC3 and FTC using links on each pattern page
⚖️ Important Information
This database is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Pattern data is derived from publicly available FBI IC3 reports and ongoing research.
ZeroScam does not guarantee detection of all scams. Always exercise caution and verify independently before sending money or personal information.
Not legal or financial advice. If you have been victimized, contact local law enforcement and file reports with FBI IC3 and FTC.
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73% of Americans report being targeted(Pew Research, 2025 survey)
|$470M reported in text-related fraud(FTC, 2024)
|$16.6B in total reported losses(FBI IC3, 2024)