BBB: Beware gift card scams during holiday season - WBBJ-TV

Dec 9, 2024 · A growing trend in scams have been targeting gift cards and taking the money before the recipient can use them. “You may get a gift card or you may give a loved one a gift …

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What Are Gift Card Scams? | Take Care - Getcarefull.com

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Americans reported losing $228 million to gift card scams in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Although gift cards are meant to be gifts, scammers can steal the balances from …

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10 Reasons To Be Careful About Buying Gift Cards - The Gate

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Dec 9, 2024 · For example: simply purchase the aforementioned $50.00 in gift cards and you will receive a coupon worth $20.00 which you can use at a later date. Sounds like an amazing …

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FAQs about BBB: Beware gift card scams during holiday season - WBBJ-TV Coupon?

Can a scammer steal a gift card?

Scammers sometimes tamper with gift cards in store displays. They might remove the protective stickers from gift cards or even scratch off the back. That way, they can steal the card numbers and PIN. With those numbers, a scammer can get any money you put on a gift card — even if they don’t physically have the card. ...

How are gift cards stolen?

According to Cater, investigators believe an organized criminal network is sending people into stores to take gift cards. They move the cards to an undisclosed location where the card numbers and security codes are stolen. The cards are reassembled to hide signs of tampering and crooks put the cards back onto store shelves. ...

Is a gift card balance check a scam?

According to BBB Scam Tracker reports, some websites that claim to check your gift card balance are really a way to steal money off your card. These sites ask for your card’s ID number and PIN or security code. Then, scammers use the information to drain the money from your card. Register your gift card. ...

What happens if you steal a gift card during the holidays?

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Gift cards are a billion-dollar business during the holidays, but you may have bought a worthless stolen card without even realizing it. Thieves are stealing the activation codes and other data from the card. They are then monitoring those cards for activation and wiping out the balances seconds after they are purchased. ...

Are gift cards a scam?

In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission reported that gift cards were the top payment method for scammers, leading to a reported $148 million stolen from consumers. ...

Should you avoid buying the first gift card on a display rack?

Here’s why you should avoid the first physical gift card on a display rack. Experts said if you can avoid buying the first gift card you see in the front of a store’s display rack. “I still buy cards,” Stokes said. ...