Specialists have warned shoppers to check gift cards carefully before buying
Plenty of people will be opening gift cards this week as Christmas is just days away. However, some vouchers that have been wrapped and waiting for months could already be worthless due to cruel criminals who take advantage of the festive spirit.
Some people prefer the freedom of choice and specifically ask for these vouchers to spend at their favourite shops, whilst others might be frantically pulling together a last-minute present. But shoppers have been urged to be careful and take precautions as fraudsters are likely to turn your Christmas shopping into a fast payday for themselves.
BBC Radio 4 Money Box presenter Dan Whitworth said that these “quick and flexible” gifts are frequently targeted by criminals who might have already nabbed your money before you’ve even handed out your Christmas presents – potentially leading to some uncomfortable conversations
Dan sahred figures from Action Fraud during a recent appearance on BBC’s Morning Live, which showed £13.4m was stolen in the past year alone using gift cards. He did emphasise that this is likely to be far lower than the actual figure, as it only includes reported incidents.
The most common tactic is ‘card draining’, according to Dan. He explained that this scam happens in full view, as criminals often scope out the gift card displays in supermarkets and retailers and select multiple targets at once, reports the Express.
He said: “They will tamper with the gift card. They might peel the [security cover] on the back, scrape away the foil on the back, and they’re then basically able to drain that card of any cash as soon as the money is put on.”
To protect yourself against this, Dan recommends taking just 20 seconds to inspect everything before making your way to the checkout. It’s also best to purchase from a different area of the store if you can.
In many cases, these large displays of gift cards for various shops are rarely watched over by employees. Dan claimed that shoppers can feel more confident that their cards haven’t been tampered with if they collect them directly from the till area.
He explained: “I was in a supermarket at the weekend, there’s lots of [gift cards] right by the checkout and the tills – and that’s not by accident. That’s so members of staff can keep half an eye on them.”
Fraudsters are likely to be more hesitant, or in some situations unable, to pinch any codes from these without the risk of the checkout worker raising the alarm.
One4All, a well-known supplier of gift cards accepted at dozens of participating outlets, has published guidance on its website for anyone who falls prey to scammers this festive season.
A spokesperson said: “Gift card fraud is a serious and growing threat, targeting individuals and businesses alike. Scammers use gift cards as an easy way to steal money, so spotting gift card fraud is crucial to protect yourself from financial loss.”
To avoid falling victim to package tampering, the experts recommend these straightforward steps when shopping:
- Fraudsters may tamper with gift card packaging to steal the card number before you even purchase your gift card.
- When in a retailer and before you purchase – check the packaging is intact and shows no signs of tampering, this can look like the packaging has already been opened or the card has been removed previously.
- If something looks off, pick another card from the stand or raise the issue with a member of staff.
