Why scammers like these payment routes
Scammers favour payment routes that are quick, hard to trace and difficult to undo. Gift card codes can be spent within minutes, and crypto transfers are generally final once sent. A card payment, by contrast, usually leaves a trail and may allow a dispute.
That difference tells you something. A real business has little reason to demand a payment route that protects the seller and exposes the buyer. When the method itself is odd, the reason is usually not a good one.
This guide is general advice. It is not a statement about any platform's payment options, and nothing here suggests MyDirtyHobby asks for either. The entry and sign-up pages we have drawn on do not describe payment methods at all.
How the pitches usually sound
The wording changes but the shape stays the same. Someone builds rapport, creates urgency, then names an unusual way to pay. Common versions include:
- A "special" deal available only if you pay by gift card or crypto.
- A claim that your account will be closed unless you pay a fee immediately.
- A promise of exclusive access, favours or attention in return for a transfer.
- A "support agent" asking you to buy codes to "verify" or "unlock" something.
Another giveaway is the push to leave the platform. Anyone who asks you to continue on a different app, or to send money outside the site, is removing whatever protections the site might offer. The safest response is no, every time.
Urgency and affection as pressure
Pressure comes in two flavours. One is fear: a threat of losing access, a fine, a legal problem. The other is warmth: someone who seems friendly, shares a hard luck story, and then asks for help. Both aim to make you act before thinking.
Slow the conversation down. Say you need to check and will come back later. A genuine contact will wait a day. A scammer will usually escalate, repeat the demand or become hostile.
Our guide to respect and etiquette makes a related point: you can be courteous and still decline. There is no rule that says a refusal needs an explanation.
What to do if you have already paid
If you bought a gift card and gave away the code, contact the card issuer at once using the number printed on the card or the retailer's help page. Ask whether the balance can be frozen. Speed matters, because funds are often spent quickly.
For crypto, contact the exchange or wallet service you used and report the transfer. Recovery is unlikely, but a prompt report is still worth making. If you paid by bank or card, contact the provider immediately.
Then report it. In the US you can use reportfraud.ftc.gov, and elsewhere your national fraud reporting service does the same job. Do not pay anyone offering to "recover" your money for an upfront fee; recovery scams target previous victims. Do not feel embarrassed either. Fraud is organised, and clever people are caught.
A short rule to carry with you
Keep one sentence in your head: I only pay through the platform's own checkout, and only for something I chose. If a request does not fit that sentence, the answer is no.
According to the platform's entry page, entering means agreeing to its Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Those documents, not a stranger's message, are what govern your relationship with the service. If anyone claims different rules apply, check the terms yourself.
Never share passwords, one-time codes or personal details with someone who contacts you, whatever they say. If a conversation turns into threats, our post on blackmail after sharing images sets out first steps. And to avoid being led to a copy of a real site, see the five-second address check.
How to refuse politely and move on
You do not need a clever reply. A short, flat sentence works best: "I only use the site's own checkout, so no thanks." Then stop responding. Long explanations invite negotiation, and negotiation is what the other person wants.
Block the account after saving any evidence, and use the platform's reporting tool so others are protected. If the contact was a message from outside the site, do not click anything in it.
It also helps to tell someone. A friend, partner or family member can offer a clear view when you are feeling pressured. Scammers rely on isolation, so even a short conversation weakens their hold. Remember that the free registration offers described on the sign-up page need no gift card from anyone, and that the conditions should be read in the platform's own terms.
If you are ever unsure whether a request is genuine, the quickest test is to ask whether you could do the same thing through the platform itself. If the answer is yes, there is no reason to go anywhere else. If the answer is no, you have your answer. Reporting the attempt helps protect other people who may be less cautious than you.
Frequently asked questions
Platform features are described as the platform presents them; we cannot verify them independently and details can change. Independent guide; adults 18+ only.