02 Dec Don’t Let Holiday Scammers Steal Your Cheer in 2025: Beware of Gift Card Scams *
The holiday season is a time for giving—but unfortunately, it’s also a prime time for scammers to take. One common scheme that resurfaces each year involves fraudsters requesting gift cards under false pretenses.
Whether they’re posing as friends, family, coworkers, or even government
officials, scammers prey on the generosity and urgency of the season.
Since 2019, the IRS has received more than 1,000 reports of gift card phishing
attempts—averaging about 200 per year. While most of these scams don’t directly reference the IRS, they can be incredibly convincing.
Important Reminder: The IRS never asks for or accepts gift cards as a form of payment for taxes.
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Common Holiday Scams to Watch Out For in 2025
Scammers often evolve their tactics, but some patterns are familiar. During the holidays, watch for:
- Impersonation calls, emails, or texts asking you to purchase gift cards.
- Messages from compromised email accounts pretending to be friends or coworkers requesting gift card help.
- Calls or voicemails from fake IRS agents, claiming you’re involved in criminal activity or owe a penalty.
- Threatening messages, demanding immediate payment with gift cards and warning of arrest or license revocation.
Often, scammers instruct victims to buy gift cards from multiple stores—trying not to raise suspicion—and then ask for the card numbers and PINs.
How to Know If It’s Really the IRS
Scammers can be convincing, but the IRS follows strict procedures when contacting taxpayers. The IRS will never:
- Demand immediate payment using gift cards, prepaid debit cards, or wire transfers.
- Call before sending an official notice in the mail.
- Threaten arrest by local police or immigration authorities.
- Revoke licenses or immigration status over the phone.
What to Do If You’re Targeted
- Report phone scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at irs.gov/tigta or call 800-366-4484.
- Forward phishing emails to: phishing@irs.gov
- Staying informed is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones this holiday season.
- Spread the word and help others stay safe from gift card scams!
*Adapted from IRS Tax Tip 2025-69
