: Regularly buying large denominations of Visa gift cards is considered "manufactured spending." This behavior can lead to an account review or permanent blacklisting by Amex.

: Amex can often see itemized receipt details (Level 3 data) from large retailers, allowing them to identify exactly when a gift card was purchased. Strategic Considerations

This triggers immediate interest charges (no grace period) and a cash advance fee (often 5% or $10 minimum).

: While usually processed as a purchase, some issuers may code "cash equivalent" transactions as a cash advance .

: Specialized sites like GiftCards.com or the official Amex Gift Card site (for Amex-branded cards) accept American Express for payment.