Skip to Content

With gift cards once again topping the list of most-requested holiday gifts, there’s a good chance you’ll be shopping for at least one of them this holiday season. Unfortunately, gift cards have become very popular with scammers and thieves as well. Here are some ways you can avoid gift card scams and help ensure the recipient of the gift card is getting what you intended to give.

Check for Signs of Tampering

Thoroughly inspect the front and back of the gift card, as well as the gift card packaging, to detect any signs of tampering. Pay special attention to the magnetic strip and the scratch-off area for the PIN number. If anything appears out of the ordinary, choose a different card. Look for things like a visible PIN or damaged packaging.

Buy from Reputable Retailers Only

Though it’s tempting to try to score a deal on high-value gift cards in online auctions, resist the temptation. There’s a good chance the card may be used, stolen or counterfeit and ultimately worth nothing when you try to redeem it.

 Keep the Receipt

Watch the cashier scan the card, be sure the amount they enter matches what you pay and keep the receipt. Include the receipt along with the card when you give it to the recipient, so they have recourse if the card doesn’t scan correctly.

Register the Gift Card

More and more retailers allow recipients to register gift cards online as a way to track the balance. This also allows for increased security by allowing the user to report if the card is lost or stolen.

Don’t Send Gift Cards through the Mail

If you’re giving gift cards to far away friends or relatives, avoid mailing them yourself. Purchase gift cards directly on the retailer’s website and let them ship it instead. If you must ship them yourself, use a padded envelope or small box, so mail thieves can’t readily detect the package contents.

woman working on balancing budget

Struggling with Credit Card Debt?

A debt management plan can help:
  • Consolidate monthly payments
  • Lower interest rates
  • Eliminate collection calls

Related Posts

The Latest Financial Scams Targeting Seniors

As technology continues to evolve and information flows at an ever-faster pace, new financial scams pop up practically every day. Unfortunately, senior citizens are often the target of these scams, because criminals assume they have healthy retirement savings to tap into. But, low-income seniors are often targeted as well, with even more devastating results. Here […]

Read More

Credit Lock or Credit Freeze. What’s the Difference?

If it seems it’s getting harder to protect your personal and financial information, you’re not wrong. As more of our financial activities migrate online, hackers and thieves are working overtime to find ways to compromise it. Fortunately, there are also more options for keeping your information safe and out of the wrong hands. Two of […]

Read More

New Twists on Old Financial Scams

While it’s true financial scams and fraud  happen throughout the year, scammers are especially active during the holiday season because they know people are busy and feeling stressed, which leaves them vulnerable to being caught off guard. Fortunately, it’s easy to spot a scam if you stay on guard and know what to look for. […]

Read More

Call 866-528-0588

Or schedule a call now
Please complete the required fields to continue.
Now Later
By requesting a review you are agreeing to communications from Take Charge America via email, phone and SMS messaging. You can opt out at any time.