Buying gift cards for the holidays? Beware of this new scam

Cyber grinches are working overtime this holiday season to steal gift cards from unsuspecting consumers, warns the Better Business Bureau.

A growing scam has emerged in which hackers remove gift cards off racks in stores where they are often kept out in the open and use a magnetic strip reader to scan account numbers. They scratch off the material on the back to get the PIN and apply a replacement strip. Unsuspecting consumers then buy the cards and are none the wiser.

After the card is loaded with cash, the thief gets an alert that funds are on the card and then goes on a shopping spree, draining the card balance, or programs a new blank card that can be used in stores. Card reader/writer encoders — which conveniently come with blank credit cards — are available online for as little as $85.

“Before purchasing a gift card, look carefully at the packaging for any tears, wrinkles, or other indications of tampering, and see if the PIN is exposed,” warns the BBB. “If anything looks suspicious, it’s probably best to take a different card, and turn in the compromised card to the store’s customer service desk.”

This novel new swindle is not a surprise considering the popularity of these easy-to-give gifts. For the 13th year in a row, gift cards are the most popular items on wish lists, requested by 59% of those surveyed by the National Retail Federation.

They are so popular, gift cards have grown more than 100% since 2013, according to Mercator Advisory Group, an advisor to the payments industry. Gift card purchases increased 3% last year, to $95.7 billion, a survey by the company reported.

You can protect yourself. The Federal Trade Commission and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center offer these tips when buying, giving and using gift cards.

• Check cards for an expiration date or fees and note any terms and conditions.
• Use gift cards as soon as possible. We often lose or forget about them.
• Only buy gift cards from trusted sources. Avoid online auction sites, as these cards may be counterfeit or may have been obtained fraudulently.
• Read the fine print. Is there a fee to buy the card? Are there shipping and handling fees for cards bought by phone or online? Will any fees be deducted from the card after it is purchased?
• Inspect the card. Verify that no protective stickers have been removed or tampered with, and that the codes on the back of the card haven’t been scratched off to reveal the PIN. Report damaged cards to the store manager.
• Attach the original receipt to the gift card in case it is lost or stolen.
• Before you buy, consider the financial condition of the retailer or restaurant. If the establishment goes out of business, you can be left with nothing. Gift cards from companies that file for bankruptcy also may be worth less.
• If it appears that a card has expired or fees have been deducted, contact the company that issued the card and ask if the card can be honored or if fees can be reversed.
• Treat gift cards like cash. If it is lost or stolen, report it to the issuer. Some will not replace cards while others will for a fee.
• If you purchase or sell gift cards on the secondary market, check website reviews and only buy from or sell to reputable dealers.

If you do get scammed, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint or at 877-382-4357.