Many people are preparing to buy and give gift cards as the holiday season is approaching. They are convenient and popular, but they are one of the ways scammers steal.
As a computer science student, I am aware that criminals use methods ranging from peeling back packaging to steal gift card numbers to deploying bots that test gift card numbers online for active balances.
Thieves typically tamper with packaging in stores, steal card numbers or use automated “bots” online to brute-force balances. Also, a scammer may contact a victim through a phone call, text or email and coerce the victim into paying with a gift card.
No legitimate business or government agency will demand a payment in this manner. If anyone demands a gift card as payment for fines or any other fees that no legitimate
entity would do, treat it as a red flag and do not share any information.
Consumers can mitigate the risk of losing their balances by buying gift cards only from reputable stores, inspecting the card for tampering ,and keeping the card number and PIN secure.
This year, Arizona lawmakers took a significant step to protect residents through Senate Bill 1351. Remember: gift card theft is a felony under A.R.S. § 13-1813, and criminals who steal gift cards or information will be held accountable!
If you are a victim of gift card fraud, report it to your legal authorities and to the retailer if necessary. Humans often do not become aware of a card’s empty balance until they try to use it, only to discover that the fraudsters have already drained it.
Gift cards are meant to be gifts, not used as payment to criminals. Protect your hard-earned money this holiday season!
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