Gift Card Scams & Draining
Nobody legitimate is ever paid in gift cards. Learn why fraudsters insist on them, how in-store card draining works, and what to do in the first hour after paying.
9 min readUpdated July 17, 2026
Credit Card & Payment Frauds
Not all payments are equally reversible. A credit card charge, a debit card charge and a Zelle transfer give you three completely different sets of rights. These guides cover the scams that target each rail, and explain which protection you can actually invoke when something goes wrong.
3 guides in this hub
P2P Accidental Transfer Scam
Money arrives in your Venmo or Cash App "by mistake" and a stranger asks you to send it back. Here is why returning it costs you twice, and how P2P payment fraud really works.
12 min readUpdated July 9, 2026
RFID Skimming: Myth vs Reality
Are RFID blocking wallets worth it? We separate contactless card skimming myth from measured reality — and show where card fraud actually happens.
11 min readUpdated June 11, 2026
Other scam categories
Official reporting channels
Contact your bank first if money has moved, then file with the agencies below.
FTC — ReportFraud.ftc.govThe US Federal Trade Commission’s official fraud reporting portal.FBI IC3 — Internet Crime Complaint CenterReport internet-enabled crime, wire fraud and cyber-enabled theft to the FBI.CFPB — Consumer Financial Protection BureauFile a complaint against a bank, card issuer or payment app that refuses to help.
These are official government resources. ScamAlert is not affiliated with any government agency and receives no compensation for these links.
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