Scammers tell you to PAY in a specific way

They often insist that you can only pay by using cryptocurrency, wiring money through a company like MoneyGram or Western Union, using a payment app like Zelle® or Venmo, or putting money on a gift card and then giving them the numbers on the back of the card.

Some will send you a check (that will later turn out to be fake), then tell you to deposit it and send them money.

If you paid someone one of these ways, act quickly to report it to the company or bank behind the gift card, cryptocurrency, payment app, or wire transfer service. Depending on how you paid, you might be able to get your money back. But no matter how you paid, it’s worth asking.