With holiday shopping in full swing, there’s a good chance you’ve already picked up a few gift cards for some of the recipients on your list. They can be the perfect way to set someone up for a nice vacation, send them out for a great meal, or simply make sure your recipient gets exactly what they want from their favorite store. But while the stocking stuffers might seem like a convenient and safe way to pass along a little cash, you could still be exposed to a new type of gift card scam that steals your money using a fake barcode. Read on to see how you can avoid falling victim to this type of theft.
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Whether you’re shopping at a high-end luxury department store or the pharmacy down the block, it’s very easy to pick up a gift card practically anywhere. And since most come pre-loaded on a swipeable piece of plastic that might look just like your own personal credit card, it can be easy to assume that they’re much more secure than passing cash along to someone. But unfortunately, crooks have adapted specific types of scams to take advantage of gift cards and leave victims high and dry.
Sometimes, it’s a message from someone claiming to be your boss who says they need gift cards to purchase party supplies for an office event. In others, fraudsters impersonating the police can claim you owe fines and…
