Buzz
As the holiday season picks up, so does the surge in gift card purchases—unfortunately, this also means scammers are ramping up their efforts to deceive us into buying gift cards that won’t actually reach the intended recipient. We’ve talked before about scammers posing as IRS agents or other authority figures to trick people into paying with gift cards. However, these con artists are getting more cunning and creative, so here are some fresh gift card scams to stay alert for.
Identifying Tampered Gift Cards in Stores
Tampering with unpurchased gift cards is nothing new, but it’s usually done by scammers who steal the PIN information from a card, return it to the shelf, and wait for an unsuspecting customer to buy it and load money onto it. They track the card’s balance by calling the number on the back, and once money is added, they drain it. Today, scammers have upped their game by printing their own barcodes and covering the real ones. When the card is activated, the funds are sent to an existing card owned by the scammer, leaving the victim with a worthless card.
To avoid unintentionally purchasing a compromised gift card, carefully inspect the gift cards for any signs of tampering before adding any funds. Check that the barcode number matches the one on the packaging. Peel off the barcode to see if it comes off easily and compare it with other cards on the shelves to ensure everything seems legitimate.
If you come across a tampered gift card, promptly hand it over to the customer service team to prevent others from accidentally purchasing it. If you load funds onto one, contact the issuing company immediately and inform them. Additionally, you can notify your bank to inquire about a potential refund, especially if you used a credit card.
Stay informed about scams involving Apple gift cards.
A viral TikTok video recently showcased a woman who bought $100 Apple gift cards from Target, only to be scammed when she discovered the last few digits of the code were scratched off upon arriving home. Unfortunately, she couldn't receive a refund due to Target's strict policy on returns for gift cards.
The key takeaway is to verify any gift card you purchase from retail stores, as they are vulnerable to tampering. For safer options, consider buying gift cards online or directly from the store, particularly if the cards are kept in secure displays such as glass counters. Avoid purchasing cards that are left in open spaces for customers to handle, as these are more prone to manipulation.
Be cautious of 'free' gift cards offered in exchange for your personal information
Have you ever received a message saying 'Win a free $100 Amazon gift card!'? These types of scams try to deceive you with an alluring offer that is, in reality, a fraud. They typically ask for your personal details, such as social security number, bank information, or even prompt you to download a file to 'transfer' the gift card to you.
These scams are especially tricky because there are legitimate free gift cards out there, but there are ways to differentiate the real ones from the fakes. Check the URLs, phone numbers, and email addresses they provide and compare them with those of the genuine companies. If they don't match, it's likely a scam. Another method is to directly contact the company they claim to represent and verify if they are indeed offering such a gift-card promotion.
Or simply keep in mind: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is a scam.
