Gift card fraud increased by 38 per cent to more than A$5 million in 2018, making it the most popular payment method for scammers.The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's Scamwatch service reported that iTunes cards accounted for $3.1 million of losses last year - a 156 per cent increase year on year.Scamwatch said it had also seen an increase in reports involving other gift cards, including Google Play, Amazon, Steam and Australia Post Load & Go.ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said: "Scammers like to get gift cards as payment as it's easy for them to quickly sell them on secondary markets and pocket the cash."She says the use of a wider range of cards probably reflects that fact that there are widespread warnings about the use of iTunes cards for paying scammers."It's vital for people to be aware that no legitimate company or government agency will ever ask you to make a payment with any sort of gift card," Rickard said.A common gift card scam involves people impersonating Australian Taxation Office staff and demanding immediate payment of a "fine" to avoid the issue of a warrant.