Tips to Protect Yourself From Holiday Gift Card Scams 

Why don't they just keep the gift cards locked up in a display case at the customer service cointer? That way they can't scan them easily. When someone wants to buy one, a customer service rep can unlock said case and assist the consumer. Alternatively, customers can buy electronic gift cards.

This is not a scam. This is stealing, which is a crime and anyone who is found doing this should be arrested and charged immediately.

Time for stores to lock up all gift cards behind the counter or behind a locked case. I know it’s a great inconvenience to customers and employees, but it has to be done for the protection from gift card scams.

Costco came prepared years ahead of this now that I'm thinking about it. In order to purchase a gift card you take the cardboard card to the register and you purchase it. Then you take your receipt to the merchandise pickup and you get the actual gift card LOL. Years ahead of it's time haha.

Anyone caught doing this 5 years mandatory in Jail. They might change their mind on doing this.

I despise the lowlifes that do this and ruin others' joy. It happened with a gift card I had given to my mom. Although I bought it at Walgreen's, it was a gift card for Macy's. Of course I saved my receipt, but Walgreen's couldn't do anything. Luckily Macy's was able to cancel out the gift card I had given to my mom and replaced it with a new one.

I agree with below comments. Lock up the gift cards at the stores.

At the grocery store where I work did a good job keeping an eye out and making sure the customers weren’t scamming it.

Isnt it weird and unbelievable, manufacturers of this gift cards or the companies that own them dont see the flaws? Its like they intended this to happen.

They need to start keeping them in a locked case at the customer service counter.

Here's a tip: Don't buy targeted gift cards. Go to your bank and get a Visa gift card. You can spend it in any store and anywhere online and the best part is thieves aren't going into banks and robbing the bank of their gift cards.

No need for gift cards. Just give cash. It's a better present. The recipient can spent it anywhere he or she wants.

My opinion for retailers is to remove the gift card from where people can access to it

Why don't they lock up the gift cards like they do the razor blades?

These should have been locked up from the get-go.

They need to lock these giftcards up! Just like how they lock up deodorant and other smaller items!!!

As a cashier, I always tell people not to buy gift cards.

It seems like the stores don’t care about protecting us or they would just lock them up. Everything of any value is already locked up, what’s the big deal? I had already purchased two gift cards for Christmas gifts before I heard of these scams, and I’m going to hope for the best and hope the stores will reimburse me if anything is wrong, but I think this will be the last time I buy gift cards until the stores start locking them up.

Former cashier here. When people would buy gift cards, I would give them an activation status receipt. If the card didn't work, the customer would bring it back.

Sometimes you see gift cards display near the doors entry. Anyone can just grab a few & run off. I always thought that makes it easy for criminals 🏃‍♂️

This can be fixed by putting gift cards behind the counter like cigarettes...

At the supermarket I work at, any gift card transactions of over $500 always take place at the customer service desk to make sure nobody gets scammed.

They need to package them better like Sam's Club.

Walmart in New Albany Ms. Is the worst place to buy gift cards. They've been ripping people off for over a year now.

Just got a starbucks gift card for my teacher and inspected thoroughly.... Still feel scared he has no value on the card if it was a scam card :(

Gee whiz, looks like Christmas is now peak hour of the criminal underworld. With the amount of expensive gifts being bought like toys, jewellery, gift cards, anything that can make big bucks especially at a pawn shop, it seems some will do whatever it takes to get money....

Maybe they need to keep them behind customer service.

Why don't ppl just buy gift cards online?

Solution: Don't buy gift cards period! I hate to receive a gift card for a place that I never go. Put that $50 inside of an envelop and the recipient will certainly have a better use for that money.

I don't understand why they would bother repackaging it and returning it to the store, after stealing the bar code to use for themselves. why would they bother to do this?

Is why gift cards should be behind the counter in a lockbox

stores should keep all kinds of gift cards locked up in a display case

$200,000 from stolen giftcards is INSANE

RE: Sticker. I have bought some gift cards at Walgreens that have a sticker on the back side that covers the bar code. The cashier needs to remove the sticker so that money can be added on to the gift card. It’s very difficult to remove the sticker without it falling apart.

Just place someone at the gift card sections so people don’t attempt it

Tech Support Scammers favourite, beware

I already decided. No more purchasing any gift cards ever. Can't get scam now.

Remember when clickbait channels do fake gift cards giveaways?

You can always go to stores that make you go to the cashier for gift cards.

My received a Target gift card from her co-worker and it was empty 😩 I’ve been sending e-gift cards for years now. I’m in Sacramento (county) as well

That’s why I will only buy them from behind the customer service counter

Whenever I buy gift cards, I just try to get some assistance with it.

“Doing everything they can to prevent these scams” Target wouldn’t even work with the police who caught the guy in the video showed

Here is a ideal, have the real gift cards locked up, and on the sales floor have a fake card that you take to the counter to get the actual gift card, that is what they do with certain OTC medications.

I could imagine they can just beat the system by inventing a removable paint in the future

They should tell the public not to buy the gift cards and just give the cold hard cash and call it a day

Thieves will do anything to get what they want before we do. So we better be careful because we might be next to get scammed.

The very best advice. DON'T EVER BUY THESE THINGS. It's real simple. I have never bought one, and I have never redeemed one either. I don't worry about this.

Maybe the stores simply put the cards behind the counter at customer service n they have to load the card right then n there too. No more leaving them hanging up like that and out for any and everyone to be able to grab n then go n put back later so they can steal🤷🏻‍♂️……just a thought….

just do it online. smh

this has been happening all year long for so long. and no you do not get refunds even if you got scammed. don't listen to the advice about that. Just buy your gifts on certified websites by the merchants until stores start locking up their gift cards.

I buy them online through email and then forward. Problem solved

I never use gift cards anyway

I don't need a tip, nobody gives me a gift 😭😭

This was 5 years ago. What was the outcome?

Bro I’m not gonna lie, as a child I wanted kid open these gift cards for toy store, and I didn’t even realise what I was doing 💀. Crazy thing is, no one found out

Only get gift digital from the store

Thats y i never buy gift cards haha

Just give money

Come on people

Wow I had no idea that was possible.

They should only allow purchases made with debit credit card! Bad business!

So how do they use the codes and get the cash they just use the code active it and then transfer the funds or how

Okay so that barcode sticker is a dead giveaway.

How in the hell someone takes most of the gift cards, steals them, then takes them back and puts them back on the rack and not get caught. I’m Hispanic…with the big mustache straight outta of east La and I get followed thru out target. This is crazy to me that target and Walmart don’t do nothing about it

Recently situation $200 scam

Just give cash. It's accepted everywhere. Avoid the drama. U still have to pay cash for the card. Easy solution for me this yr. Cash money baby

just grab one from the back 💀

Oh wow I. Didn’t now that

That happen to me a week ago I got the gift card looks like I lost my money

This is sad because I get a lot of Gifts cards for Christmas.

Wait doesn’t the cashier activate the card when you buy it?

I had that happen to me. I was on the receiving side of a $100 Visa. Gratefully; the company was pretty good about it but it sucked for sure.

THANK YOU : Inside Edition. I had no idea this was happening. 💳

At this point mind as well lock up the whole store and just put in a drive through. It went from can i pay next time because I forgot my wallet kindness, to locking up gift cards that don’t even work yet.

Just buy the item or zelle them the money lol

As a retailer, I can certainly say this: gift cards do make good stocking stuffers but they can also be stocking stuffers for thieves. I buy gift cards occasionally for friends and co-workers but I always inspect the gift cards before I take them to the cash register and when I'm on the way there, I always keep them hidden so no one can see them. Next time you want to get one, remember these tips. Inspect the gift card and see if it has been tampered with. Keep the gift card hidden in your basket or shopping cart so the numbers can't be seen Always keep your activation receipt Only give gift cards to people you know and trust After you purchase the gift card, put it in your purse and close your purse up immediately.

skill issue

This isn't new this happens every year. Why don't you just lock them up since you lock up anything else anyway?

None of these tips helped it still happened

This is the reason why I hardly ever buy guft cards.

We can't have nice things

we can buy online GCs ... lets do that i think👌👌

Just order online smh digital way better

Damn

Here’s a tip just give Cash

THIS HAPPENED TO ME AND I ALSO LIVE IN SACRAMENTO

Thanks inside, now these scams will 5x

Bought a gift card for my daughter at Target..noticed they charged tax…at local grocery store..same gift card no tax…

Son of a gun

This is so low and f****d up 🤦🏻‍♀️

Time to lock gift cards also

This is hilarious 😂

🔎💳

Thags so messed up

There gonna now lock up the gift cards😢

Protect yourself buy only giving cash.

Cash is king, stop buying gift cards

I can't get some PS money for completing the Gran Turismo World Series because of those scammers really angers me. 💢😠

Get a job why dont you