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As it’s giving season and more people start completing their holiday shopping, scams are on the rise.
Gift cards are popular as Christmas stuffers and last-minute gifts, but experts say they can be the easiest way to ruin a thoughtful gesture.
Scammers discreetly hack into the packaging of gift cards that are still in stores and steal information before repackaging the cards. You can then connect that number to your computer using special software that notifies you when the card is purchased and activated.
“30% of us have given or received a worthless gift card, a 21% increase from two years ago,” said Kathy Stokes, director of AARP’s fraud prevention program. “
Latonya Jackson fell victim to a scam after giving out multiple cards to the community around Thanksgiving last year.
“They were probably expecting to buy a Thanksgiving meal with the gift cards we gave them,” Jackson said. “The next week, right before Thanksgiving, I got a call saying some of the cards didn’t have anything in them. It was very scary and very embarrassing.”
Experts say the best way to avoid becoming a victim of crime is to avoid large kiosks where fraudsters can easily tamper with cards, and if possible, buy cards that are locked or behind the register. states. Another recommendation is to send gift cards electronically through email or text.
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