As we come closer to Christmas Day, deadlines for delivery before Christmas become tighter and tighter. You might want to give a gift card to the recipient’s favorite store, restaurant, or coffee house.
Scammers have found gift cards as a good way to steal money from you, without a way to be caught. A crook will either jot down or swipe the account number of the card in the store. Then, over the next few days or weeks, the crook can check the number over the phone or on the web to see if the card has been activated. When the card is activated the crook quickly goes on a shopping spree. And your friend or relative is out their gift and you are out your money.
Here are some ways you can protect yourself from a gift card scam,
- Purchase
the gift card online directly from the vendor. This is probably the safest
way to purchase a gift card. If the timing is wrong for it to arrive
before Christmas, then do the following at the store.
- Take
a card from the middle of the rack. Often card scammers will copy numbers
from the front or the edges of the rack. After all, they do not want to
raise suspicions by being too obvious.
- Check
any packaging for signs of tampering. Some card scammers are particularly
good, so don’t be embarrassed to be picky about the card that you choose.
Also, many gift cards have PINs that are masked on the card. Be sure to
check the card to see if the masking has been scratched off or tampered
with.
- Encourage
the recipient to use the card as soon as possible.
Federal Trade Commission:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2019/12/tips-holiday-gift-card-shopping
GiftCards.com:
https://www.giftcards.com/gcgf/giftcard-scams
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