I’m sure you’ve seen warning about risks of using gift cards throughout the years but now there’s a new scam that starts right at the gift card rack at the store. Cybercriminal organizations says those racks are easy targets to make some quick cash. According to the FTC Consumer Sentinel, Americans reported lost over $228 million in gift card scams in 2022. The leading anti-cybercrime non-profit Cybercrime Support Network (CSN), sponsored by Google, Target, Comcast, and Capital One, has been helping Americans report and combat this gift card crisis in an effort to mitigate it’s effects.
In order to steal the funds from a gift card, the cybercriminal will tamper with the gift cards on the rack and record it’s activation code, according to CSN. They can then activate the card online without the legitimate gift card purchaser ever knowing.
When purchasing a gift card from the store, look for signs of tampering. The wrapping could be torn or resealed, or there could be stickers over the barcode or card number. Stickers with fake barcodes over the real barcode allows the scammer to secretly load up their own card right at purchase time.
According to CSN, you should look for gift cards in the back of the rack. Scammers often put tampered cards near the front so they’ll be purchased quickly and are less likely to tamper with cards further back. When choosing a gift card, try to find the ones in plain view of the cashier or the ones locked in a display case. This can provide an extra layer of protection from tampering. Stick with recognizable brands and companies. Some gift-card scammers will create an entirely fake brand or use defunct company names to appear legitimate. If you are suspicious of the brand or company, research the company online prior to making any purchases. If you think the gift card has been tampered with in any way, immediately report it to a store associate and request for a refund or exchange. You should also report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for investigation and to the issuing card company to have the card re-issued.
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