Is it safe to sell a gift card online?
It can be. The risk isn't the internet, it's who gets your code. A gift card code is spendable money, so the whole question comes down to one thing: whether the buyer pays you before or after they can use it, and whether you can tell in advance.
Updated 2 min read
A buyer you can trust
- Shows the exact amount you'll receive before asking for anything.
- Takes the code through its own website, in a form, not by chat.
- Never asks for passwords, card PINs from your bank, or a fee to pay you.
- Has written terms, a contact address and a page where you can follow your order.
- Explains what happens if a card fails the check.
Red flags
- Someone in a comment section, group or DM offering to buy your card.
- A price above the card's value. Nobody does that honestly.
- "Send me a photo of the code so I can check it first."
- Any release, verification or tax fee before you get your money.
- Pressure: "offer ends in ten minutes".
If someone asked you to buy the card
Some scams work the other way round: a fake bank, a fake fine or a fake seller asks you to buy gift cards and send them the codes. If that's how you got the card, stop and don't send the code to anyone. Report it to the store that sold the card and to your local police.
Protect yourself
- Never post a photo of a card online where the code can be read.
- Keep the receipt until you're paid.
- Type the buyer's web address yourself instead of following links from messages.
Questions
How does SpareCards protect my code?
You enter it in a form on our site, it's encrypted when stored, and only our review team sees it. We never ask for a code by email, phone or chat.
What if the buyer says my card was already used?
A trustworthy buyer tells you which card failed and why, on your order page. At SpareCards, the rest of that order goes ahead and gets paid.
Can a buyer steal the balance and not pay?
A scammer can, which is why the signs above matter. Stick to buyers with a real website, written terms and order tracking.