Danger: a real brand never does it
Processing fees, gift cards, crypto: a brand never asks you for money
Activation, shipping or verification fees, a payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency, a deposit to "verify your wallet": a fake offer, for sure.
What it looks like
The product is free, you only pay the 4.90 € shipping by card. Your payment will be made in gift cards.
Why it is a sign
In a partnership, the brand pays you. Fees "refunded with the first payment", shipping fees on a free product that open a hidden subscription, gift cards whose code is asked for and cryptocurrency deposits are the classic forms of the scam, documented by the US consumer protection agency and by the impersonated brands themselves.
What a real brand does
A real brand pays you by bank transfer, on invoice, sometimes with a deposit. It covers the shipping of products. It asks for no advance, no card and no code.
What to do
Pay nothing and give no card number. If you paid shipping fees, watch your statement and cancel a hidden subscription.