Gift Card, V-Bucks, and Robux Scams: What to Teach Before the Holidays

Short answer: Roblox says there's no such thing as free Robux, Epic says not to trust free V-Bucks offers on outside sites, and anyone who asks for the numbers on the back of a gift card is running a scam. Redeem holiday gift cards yourself, only on the official site, and keep a photo of the card and the receipt.

Last verified 2026-10-01 against the official sources listed with this post.

Gift cards are one of the easiest presents to give a gamer, and one of the easiest things for a scammer to take. Raising Bytes is written by a dad of three who works in cybersecurity, and this is the talk we'd have before the wrapping paper comes out. It takes two minutes.

If someone is threatening your child, demanding money or photos, or asking to meet, stop here and go to our Something happened? page.

Do this tonight

1. Have the two-minute talk. Try: "Free Robux and free V-Bucks offers from videos, websites, or other players are tricks to get your account. Real Fortnite offers only show up in Epic's own store and channels. And if anyone ever asks for the numbers on a gift card, or a picture of the back, come get me. You won't be in trouble."
2. Plan to redeem holiday cards yourself.
   • Roblox: go to roblox.com/redeem in a web browser, log in to your kid's account, enter the code, and click Redeem. Roblox says redemption isn't available in the standard mobile app or on consoles, except in the Roblox app on Samsung Galaxy devices.
   • Fortnite cards: check the front first. A Fortnite Gift Card is redeemed at epicgames.com/redeem (or by scanning the QR code on the back): sign in to your kid's Epic account and select Redeem now. It adds money to the Epic account balance, which you then use to buy V-Bucks. An older V-Bucks Card is redeemed at fortnite.com/vbuckscard: select Get Started, enter the PIN, and pick the device your kid plays on. For Xbox or PlayStation, the site gives you a second code to enter in your Microsoft or Sony account.
3. Photograph the card and the receipt. The FTC suggests taking a picture of both with your phone. You'll need them to report a problem.
4. Check your spending settings. Our Roblox and Fortnite guides cover purchase limits. One catch: Roblox says monthly spending limits don't affect gift card redemptions.

The three scams kids actually see

1. "Free" currency. Roblox is blunt: "Any offer of free Robux, subscriptions, or valuable items is a scam." It says these offers are meant to get your password or personal information, or get you to click a bad link, and that their goal is to take the account and all its Robux and items. Epic says not to trust offers of free V-Bucks on external sites, and that real offers only appear in the Epic Games Store or on Epic's official websites and social media channels.

2. "Just say you bought it." Some scams tell kids to claim a purchase that didn't happen. Roblox says making false claims of a purchase to get free Robux breaks its rules and could get the account deleted.

3. "Send me the code." The FTC explains that the card number and PIN on the back let a scammer get the money on the card, even if you still have the card itself: "Don't give them those numbers or send them a photo of the card." Apple says not to give the numbers on the back to anyone you don't know well or haven't met. Google says, "If anyone asks you for a code, it could be a scam."

What it sounds like. Apple says gift card scams often follow a pattern: someone reaches out by call, text, email, or social media, creates panic and urgency, asks for a gift card, walks you through buying it, and then demands the code. The FTC adds that scammers push you to act right away so you don't have time to think or talk to someone you trust.

Gift card habits for the holidays

From the FTC's advice on buying gift cards:

• Stick to stores you know and trust. The FTC says to avoid online auction sites because the cards may be fake or stolen.
• Inspect the card before you buy. Check that the protective stickers are there, haven't been tampered with, and that the PIN on the back isn't showing.
• Keep a copy of the card and the receipt.

A few more facts to know:

• Epic says to keep your receipt until the redemption is complete, because support may ask for it.
• If a Roblox card won't redeem, Roblox support asks for the PIN, serial number, an image of the receipt, and an image of the front and back of the card.
• Roblox says it doesn't provide refunds for gift cards. Fortnite's V-Bucks card page says cards won't be replaced if lost, stolen, destroyed, or used without permission.
• Apple gift cards can be used only for purchases from Apple. Google Play gift cards can only be used on the Google Play app. Anyone asking for one to pay a bill is a red flag.

If it already happened

Stay calm. Your kid told you, and that's the part you want to keep happening. Then move quickly. The FTC says:

1. Report it to the gift card company right away, no matter how long ago it happened.
2. Ask for your money back. The FTC says some companies might return it.
3. Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Company-specific steps:

• Apple: contact Apple Support online, or call 800-275-2273 (U.S.) and say "gift cards" when prompted. The FTC says to ask whether the money is still on the card. If it is, Apple can freeze it.
• Google Play: Google says to report the scam to your local police and the FTC, then report it to Google through its gift card scam form. Google says the person who reports the scam must be the person affected by it. The FTC says Google can freeze the card if the money is still on it.
• Inside Roblox: report scam messages, links, and experiences with the Report Abuse buttons, and review who can message your kid in Privacy Settings.

If they gave away a password too, change it from the official site only. Roblox says to enter login details only on the official roblox.com website or the official Roblox apps. Then change the password on the email account linked to the game, and turn on 2-step verification.

Our free checklist covers Roblox, Fortnite, and your kids' other apps, no login needed. For loot boxes, skin gambling, and sweepstakes casinos, see our gambling guide.

Guidance, not a guarantee: settings change; check the linked help pages.

Raising Bytes is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Roblox, Epic Games, Apple, Google, or any other company mentioned. App names are trademarks of their owners.