Is CardCash a Scam?

If you’re thinking of using CardCash, you need to know whether it’s safe. Is CardCash a scam? 

Below, we explain whether CardCash is a scam and discuss some steps you can take to improve your safety while using this gift card marketplace. 

What Is CardCash?

CardCash is an online marketplace that buys and sells discounted gift cards.

If you have an unwanted gift card (even if you’ve used a portion of it already), you can either sell it at a discounted price (and get paid via PayPal, ACH, or check) or trade it in for another gift card you want through CardCash. 

The amount of money you receive depends on the store and the balance left on the card. 

For example, at the time of writing, having a 7-Eleven gift card with a balance of $50 would get you $41.50 in cash. Alternatively, you could trade it in for other gift cards (for example, a $44.82 Poshmark card or a $41.71 Amazon card). 

You can also use the platform to buy cheaper discount cards. For example, at the time of writing, a $10 Target card would cost you $9.45. 

CardCash was founded in 2009 (and acquired by Restaurant.com in 2024) and has gift cards for over 1,000 retailers, including Starbucks, Target, Home Depot, and TJ Maxx. 

Is CardCash a Scam? 

No, CardCash is not a scam. However, like many secondary-market platforms, it carries inherent risks that are reflected in its mixed user feedback.

On its website, CardCash says it offers a 45-day guarantee, meaning that if you buy a gift card through the marketplace and it turns out to be invalid for the dollar amount specified in your order, you have 45 days from the date you buy it to get a full refund. 

The marketplace has been featured in third-party publications like CNBC Select and Fast Company.

User reviews of CardCash are mixed as of this writing:

• 3.1 out of 5.0 stars (from over 3,500 reviews) on Trustpilot.
• 2.6 out of 5.0 stars (from over 2,500 reviews) on Sitejabber.
• 4.1 out of 5.0 stars (from over 4,000 reviews) on Google.
• 3.4 out of 5.0 stars (from over 34,000 reviews) on Reseller Ratings. 
• 2.6 out of 5.0 stars (from over 500 reviews) on Google Play. 
• 3.54 out of 5.0 stars (from over 100 reviews) on Better Business Bureau.

People praise the instant delivery of gift cards when buying and quick payment when selling. 

A number of people claim they received cards with a used or zero balance. Meanwhile, some sellers say they’ve had difficulty getting their cards back after they were declined, or that they received no payment after selling their cards to CardCash. Some people also complain about the frustrating seller verification process. 

On online forums like Reddit, people report varying experiences with CardCash.

Some users say they’ve used the marketplace many times without issues.

One user writes:

“CardCash is reliable I’ve used them many, many times.”

Others claim they used CardCash to sell or exchange their gift cards, only to be told by the marketplace that their cards had a zero value, even though they had proof they had value.

Another person describes a situation in which they sold a gift card on CardCash and received payment, but a month later, the company emailed them saying they owed money because the buyer claimed part of the card didn’t work. 

In its Conditions of Use, CardCash states that if a gift card you sell to CardCash later loses value or gets frozen because of use or suspected fraud linked to you or your sources, the company can take the money back from you (or future payments), and you must repay it (including legal costs if it comes to that).

On its website, CardCash explains that the two most common reasons a card loses its balance are the use of a stolen credit card to buy the gift card (a chargeback) or the original owner spending the card after selling it to CardCash.

CardCash is Better Business Bureau accredited and holds an “A+” rating. BBB ratings are a reflection of how the BBB thinks a company interacts with its customers.

As of this writing, CardCash has received a total of 310 complaints on the BBB website over the last three years, 83 of which have been resolved in the past 12 months. 

Complaints include people accusing CardCash of emptying their gift card balance and not accepting their gift cards. CardCash typically responds by saying that they found rejected cards to be invalid, hence the canceled orders, and that customers had full access to cards when orders were canceled. 

CardCash security 

In its privacy policy, CardCash briefly describes its security measures.

It states that it regularly scans its website, servers, and systems for security vulnerabilities, stores personal data behind secure networks, and uses encryption and industry-standard safeguards.

It also says that credit card transactions are processed by third-party payment providers and are not stored on CardCash’s servers. 

CardCash privacy  

CardCash explains in its privacy policy the kind of personal information it collects, why, and with whom it shares it.

It collects the following data:

• Contact details, like your name, addresses (mailing, billing, and shipping), email address, and phone number. 
• Payment and financial information, such as payment card information and bank account information.
• Social Security Number, tax ID, or EIN number. 
• Unique identifiers,e.g., user name, account number, or password. 
• Preference information, like product wishlists, order history, and marketing preferences.
• Details about your business, such as your company name, size, and type.
• Demographic information, e.g., age, gender, interests, and ZIP code. 
• Device and browsing information, such as device type, operating system, browser, IP address, device geolocation, device ID, search engine you use, referring sites, internet service provider, your social media accounts, and websites you accessed before, during, and after you visited CardCash. 

The company says it may combine the above information with data from third-party sources (for example, the postal service to confirm your address or a credit-reporting agency to confirm your personal information). 

CardCash uses your information to process orders and payments, prevent fraud, provide customer support, improve services, track usage trends, run analytics, send marketing communications, verify identity, authenticate users, and comply with legal and regulatory requirements. 

It uses cookies and analytics tools (including Google Analytics) and says that cookies can be turned off, but that doing so may limit site functionality. It also notes that Google may use tracking cookies for advertising, but provides opt-out options.

The platform states that it does not sell personal information (unless it gives you advance notice).

However, it may share it with service providers and for legal compliance, law enforcement, or regulatory requests, as well as to prevent fraud, fulfill services and support requests, and during business transfers. 

It notes that it may share non-personally identifiable information for marketing or analytics purposes.

Users have certain privacy rights. For example, you can request CardCash to delete your data and unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time.

You can also control cookies (through your browser settings) and limit location tracking (through your device settings).

If you’re a California resident, you have additional rights, including the right to know what personal information CardCash has collected and used about you, request CardCash to delete your personal information, and request disclosures about data sharing (“Shine the Light” rights). 

You have to submit your request in writing (the company notes that it may take up to 30 days for it to process your request). 

Identity and location checks 

In its Conditions of Use, CardCash states that by using CardCash, you give it permission to contact your mobile phone carrier to verify your identity using details tied to your phone account and run a background check or pull information from credit bureaus. 

So, Should You Use CardCash?

Depends. 

If you’re buying gift cards, the 45-day guarantee provides protection. 

If you’re selling, the complaints about disputed balances are worth noting, and it may be worth considering starting with a lower-value card to test the process and documenting your card balance with screenshots before selling. 

How to Use CardCash Safely and Privately 

• Be careful when selling high-value gift cards. Consider starting with low-value cards only to test the process and avoid selling cards over an amount you can afford to lose. Also, assume disputes can happen weeks or months later. 
• Document everything. Given repeated complaints about “zero balance” disputes, before submitting a gift card to CardCash, take screenshots or screen recordings showing gift card number, balance, date/time, and retailer’s official balance-check page. Save purchase receipts if available. If mailing a physical card, photograph the card front/back, use tracked shipping, and keep the tracking receipt. 
• Be aware of post-payment clawbacks. CardCash’s Conditions of Use allow them to reverse payments, deduct from future earnings, and demand repayment (plus legal costs) if a buyer later claims the card was invalid or partially used. As a result, don’t treat a payout as “final” for at least 45–60 days and keep funds available in case of reversal. 
• Avoid selling cards you didn’t personally buy. Many disputes appear to stem from chargebacks on the original purchase and cards linked to fraud earlier in the chain. A safer approach is to only sell cards you personally purchased. 
• Expect identity and background checks. As per the website’s Conditions of Use, by using CardCash, you may be consenting to phone carrier verification, identity checks tied to your mobile account, and credit bureau or background data pulls. 
• Share only information that’s strictly needed. CardCash may request very sensitive data (like SSN, Tax ID, or EIN). If asked, confirm why it’s needed and whether there’s an alternative.
• Secure your CardCash account. Use a strong, unique password for your CardCash account that you don’t use anywhere else, and log out after every session on shared devices. 
• Minimize tracking. CardCash uses cookies and Google Analytics. You can reduce tracking by adjusting your cookie preferences (decline all non-essential cookies), using browser settings or extensions that block third-party trackers, opting out of Google ad personalization (via Google Ad Settings), and using a privacy-focused browser.
• Be cautious with location access. Set location permissions to “While Using the App” (not “Always”). 
• Exercise your privacy rights. Request deletion of your CardCash account and personal information when you’re done using the service. If you’re in California, you have additional rights. For example, you can request disclosure of what data CardCash has on you and request deletion under the CCPA.