While the crooks physically access gift card numbers by snooping the card from its packaging and dumping it back once the number is written down its not always easy to hide the visibility of cards PIN number. They simply jot down the card numbers in the store and wait for a few days to call and see how much balance they have on the card. Asking for such details is absolutely unnecessary and irrelevant.Treacherous Employees: The employees steal Gift Cards from their displays; activate them with store scanners and then go on for shopping sprees. It is better to examine both side of the packaging irrespective of wherever you buy from.Keep the Receipts: Keep your receipt as proof of purchase until the card value gets exhausted. After these empty cards are sold, the activation of the bar code loads the real card (in thiefs possession) with funds and the genuine buyer remains empty-handed.Restrict from giving Extra Information:
Always remember that no reputable business can ask you for social security number, bank account information or even date of birth while purchasing a gift card. Cyber crooks have expertized in exploiting this popular form of gifting through tampering, deception and utter theft. There is a very little scope for the buyers to understand such frauds. Never assume that if a store has gift cards under lock and key, then they are original and their PIN is not yet accessed. Occasionally, they use the stolen cards to purchase new cards to legalize their stolen merchandise. Once the card is activated, they go online and start shopping.. Some Other Scams There are numerous other ways where the users fall victim of scam:Overstating Card Value: It happens when a reseller overstates the values of the cards they are selling.
It is advisable to check the authenticity of the retailer immediately.Purchase Online Gift Cards from Official Portal of the Retailers: Purchase online gift cards from the official website of the retailer where they are intended to be bought.It is always advisable to be careful while selecting gift cards for your friends and loved ones. There might be signs of tampering.
The NRF (National Retail Federation) advises consumers to buy gift cards only from a reputable dealer and never through any online auction because what you bid on might be a stolen one.Manhandle Bar Code: Cyber criminals carefully slit open the packaging of bar code-bearing gift cards and replace the new cards with used ones where there are no funds. Thus if Gift Cards are bought from a display rack of Turbomachinery Bearingsany store, then the buyer may become a victim of theft.How it happens?These days, cyber criminals have found a new way to steal your gift card balance. In case any fraud happens, then you can show the receipt to the retailer and claim a replacement of the false card.Card Pilfers: There are thieves who pretend to be genuine customers swap blank cards (previously stolen) against new cards activated during a sale.Scan the Card: Get your card scanned at the time of purchase to ensure that the gift card you bought is genuine and has the correct balance. It is always better to get them directly from the store