New info on Gift Cards - please read

Vette C6.r

Hey guys thought you might like to read this.

Tony




There is a new Fraud scheme being conducted nationwide during this Holiday season that involves the use of Gift Cards. The scam revolves around crews going to stores where gift cards are out in the open for customers to grab on the way to check-out or to get as gifts. The crews copy down the cards information on the back ie card number and stores name within the store itself or they take the cards home and copy this information down and return them later to the store. In either event the cards are then left for shoppers/customers to purchase and place money into the gift card account.
After several days the crews then check on-line the status of the cards to see if they have been activated by the customers. If the cards have been activated the crews get to work buying items online until the gift card has little to no remaining balance leaving the customer and the gift card recipient with a zero balance gift card.
The BBB has suggested the following countermeasures:
-That you only purchase gift cards that are kept at the register or behind same
-Do not buy gift cards via the internet
-Upon making a purchase of the gift card in the store have the clerk/cashier verify the funds are on the gift card
-Keep any and all receipts to prove purchase date/time/location

heiney9

Many of the cards have a scratchable hidden layer (like a lottery card) over the card info to prevent this.

But it's always good to be aware of scammers

H9

tommyboy

Yes, like said above, most retailers have the scratch area on the back which makes this a non issue. The real scam is the gift cards themselves:p. Especially the ones that actually charge to activate and for non-use....