A recent warning from the Federal Trade Commission prohibits telemarketers from requesting wired money or prepaid card numbers over the phone. Now, scammers are getting around the rule by asking for a different form of payment — gift cards.

The Kansas Attorney General’s office has received numerous reports in recent months of consumers being asked by telephone or online scammers to pay for things using gift cards, often in very large amounts.

Scammers can use any number of popular scams, including posing as IRS agents collecting supposed past-due tax bills, or posing as a grandchild in need of help.

The public is asked to hang up immediately if they receive one of these calls. Anyone who has fallen victim is asked to report it immediately to local law enforcement and the attorney general’s customer protection division online at www.inyourcornerkansas.org or by calling (800) 432-2310.