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Tips while buying gift cards
Posted on: 04/Jul/2015 11:20:51 AM
KOMO TV in Seattle, Washington, USA has said that store gift cards are now the latest victim to cyber crime. According to a report, criminals note down card details while on the rack and wait a few days for them to activate. Once activated, they use up the money by shopping online.
However, this does not happen with all retailers. Some cards have a PIN that can be accessed only by scratching out an area. So, any tampering can be detected easily. To be on the safer side, check both sides of a gift card before buying.
You could be scammed in other ways:
- An experienced hand can carefully slit open the packaging and replace the card with a older, used one. When the card is purchased, the card in the thief’s hands activates, leaving the actual buyer with no funds. This usually happens with cards that have bar codes.
- Retailers can overstate the value of the gift card. There is not much to be done about this.
- It is advisable to buy gift cards from an established retailer only. Stolen, empty cards are sold on online auction sites.
- Some store employees have been known to steal the money on gift cards while scanning them.
- Still others come back with empty cards and claim that they are defunct, thus, getting a new, fully loaded card for free.
Here are a few ways to avoid getting scammed:
- No retailer can ask you for personal details such as date of birth or bank account number. Do not disclose to anyone.
- It is always safer to buy cards from reputable sources, preferably directly from the store.
- Scan your card during the time of purchase to check the balance beforehand.
- Look at your card carefully before buying and search for signs of tampering.
- Always keep the receipts, for a reasonable length of time, as proof of purchase.
- If you are buying cards online, buy them directly from the store portal and not a via media.
