Amazon will not refund a gift card you bought because someone tricked you into it
Amazon's policy is clear: once a gift card code is redeemed, the balance cannot be reversed or refunded, even if you were scammed into buying it. This applies whether you bought the card at a retail store, online, or directly from Amazon. The company treats gift cards like cash — once spent, it is gone.
However, your options depend on where the scammer directed you to buy the card and what happened after. If you paid with a credit card or debit card, your bank or card issuer may be able to reverse the charge. If the scammer has already redeemed the card, recovery becomes much harder, but you still have steps to take.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon will not refund a gift card code once it has been redeemed, regardless of whether you were scammed into buying it.
- Your bank or credit card company can sometimes reverse the charge if you report the fraud within a set time window, usually 60 to 120 days.
- Report the scam to Amazon immediately with the gift card code and receipt, because Amazon can sometimes block a code before it is spent.
- File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov, which creates an official record and may help law enforcement track the scammer.
- Contact your local police department to file a report, which you may need for your bank's fraud investigation.
How to report the fraud to your bank or card issuer
If you paid for the gift card with a credit card, debit card, or bank transfer, contact your bank or card company immediately. Tell them you were scammed and ask them to dispute the charge or reverse the transaction. Most banks and card companies have a fraud department that handles these cases.
You will need to provide the receipt or proof of purchase, the date you bought the card, and the amount. Your bank will ask you to describe how the scam worked — for example, whether someone posing as Amazon support told you to buy the card, or whether you sent money to a fake seller. Banks typically have 60 to 120 days from the transaction date to investigate and reverse charges, depending on the card type and issuer.
The success of a chargeback depends on timing and whether the scammer has already redeemed the card. If the card has not been spent, your bank has a stronger case. If it has been redeemed, the outcome is less certain, but it is still worth reporting.
Report the code to Amazon before it is redeemed
Contact Amazon immediately with the gift card code. Go to Amazon's contact page or call their customer service line. Explain that you were scammed into buying the card and provide the code and your receipt. If the code has not been redeemed yet, Amazon can sometimes block it or flag it for investigation.
Amazon cannot refund the card once it is redeemed, but blocking an unredeemed code may prevent the scammer from using it. This is why speed matters — the sooner you report it, the better your chances. Keep your receipt and any proof of the scam (messages from the scammer, screenshots, emails) to show Amazon.
File a report with the Federal Trade Commission
Report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC does not recover money for individual victims, but it creates an official record of the fraud. This record helps law enforcement identify patterns and track down scammers who run the same scheme repeatedly.
When you file, describe exactly what happened: who contacted you, what they claimed, and what they told you to do. Include the date, the amount, and any contact information the scammer provided. The FTC may share this information with law enforcement agencies and other fraud investigators.
File a police report in your jurisdiction
Contact your local police department or sheriff's office and file a report for fraud or theft. Provide the same details you gave the FTC: the scammer's contact information, the date, the amount, and how the scam worked. Ask for a case number and a copy of the report.
Your bank may ask for a police report number when you dispute the charge. Even if the police cannot recover your money, the report creates an official record and may help your bank's fraud investigation. Some jurisdictions allow you to file a report online; others require you to go in person or call.
Understand why Amazon gift cards are a common scam target
Scammers prefer Amazon gift cards because they are easy to buy, quick to redeem, and hard to trace. Unlike bank transfers or wire services, there is no verification step or waiting period. Once a code is redeemed, the balance is attached to an Amazon account that the scammer controls, and they can spend it immediately or convert it to other forms of value.
Common scams involving Amazon gift cards include fake tech support calls (claiming your computer has a virus), fake tax refund notices, romance scams, job offer scams, and fake Amazon account alerts. In each case, the scammer creates urgency and tells you to buy a gift card as "proof" or "payment" or "verification." By the time you realize it is a scam, the code is already redeemed.
What to do if the scammer already redeemed the card
If the gift card code has already been redeemed to an Amazon account, recovery is unlikely but not impossible. Report it to Amazon and your bank anyway — your bank may still reverse the charge on your card even if Amazon cannot recover the balance. Some banks will issue a provisional credit while they investigate.
Amazon can sometimes trace which account redeemed the code and may be able to suspend that account or work with law enforcement. This is rare, but it happens. Provide Amazon with all the details: when you bought the card, when you discovered the scam, and the code itself. The more information you give, the better Amazon's fraud team can investigate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my money back if I bought the gift card with cash?
No. If you paid cash at a retail store, there is no transaction to reverse with a bank or card company. Your only option is to report the scam to Amazon, the FTC, and local police. This creates a record but does not recover the money. This is why scammers often ask victims to buy cards with cash — it leaves no paper trail for the victim to dispute.
How long do I have to report the fraud to my bank?
Most banks and credit card companies require you to report fraud within 60 days of the transaction appearing on your statement. Some allow up to 120 days. Check your card's terms or call your bank to confirm the deadline. The sooner you report it, the better your chances of a successful dispute.
What if the scammer is in another country?
International scams are harder to prosecute, but you should still report them to the FTC and local police. The FTC shares fraud reports with international law enforcement agencies. Your bank will still investigate the charge dispute regardless of where the scammer is located. Focus on getting your bank to reverse the charge rather than on catching the scammer.
Can Amazon tell me which account redeemed my gift card code?
Amazon does not share account information with customers for privacy reasons. However, if you file a police report and provide the case number to Amazon, their fraud team may cooperate with law enforcement to trace the account. This requires a formal investigation, not just a customer service request.
Should I buy gift cards from third-party resellers to avoid this?
No. Buying from resellers does not protect you from being scammed into buying a card in the first place. If someone is pressuring you to buy an Amazon gift card, the source does not matter — the scam is the pressure itself, not where you purchase the card. Stick to official retailers like Amazon.com, Best Buy, Target, or Walmart.