Buzz
If you're still in search of the ideal gift, here’s why those enticing grocery store gift cards might not be the best option, no matter how desperate you may feel. According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, several shoppers reported buying gift cards from stores like Walmart and local supermarkets, only to discover that the balance was drained shortly after leaving the store.
“I got home, scratched off the codes, checked them on my Amazon account, and it said they had already been claimed by someone,” a shopper shared with the Gazette. “They were empty.” For this particular customer, that meant a loss of $850 worth of Amazon purchases.
It turns out, gift cards are not immune to hacking. The scam is straightforward: A fraudster swipes the details off an unactivated card (including peeling off or scratching the label to uncover its PIN and then resealing it) and monitors the card’s activity on the retailer’s website. Once it’s activated, the scammer strikes, spending whatever balance remains.
Back in 2017, a security researcher explained to Wired how some tech-savvy scammers can use brute-force techniques, or trial-and-error methods, to predict the numbers on unprotected gift cards. This is possible because some retailers' cards may differ by only a few digits. Using this method, they then check each number’s validity (to see if it exists) on the retailer’s website and strike it big, without ever having seen the card or its number.
All in all, gift card scams have caused victims to lose a total of $74 million, according to the Federal Trade Commission. And with Christmas approaching, scammers know that the gift card aisles in grocery stores will soon be emptied. If you want to steer clear of falling victim to a gift card scam, there are a few things you can do. For starters, always inspect the card for signs of tampering before leaving the store, especially if the PIN cover label is missing or looks unusual compared to other cards. Don't forget to keep your receipt, just in case.
As the Los Angeles Times advises, it's safer to purchase gift cards online whenever possible, as it offers an extra layer of security. If you have to buy them in person, choose one from the back of the rack or behind the counter to avoid cards that may have been tampered with. Also, bear in mind that some gift cards may be more vulnerable to hacking than others. (For example, a $5 Starbucks card is likely safer than a $250 Best Buy card.)
If you end up falling victim to a scam, contact the retailer right away. The FTC has a list of several retailers' customer support numbers in case of fraud. In some cases, you may even be able to get your money back if you act fast.
