Friday, December 08, 2006

Gift Card Scam

A FEW DO'S AND DON'TS ...

Check your list and shopping habits twice: do not leave anything valuable in view in your car when you park, keep your purse/wallet and purchases with you at all times, and be aware of your surroundings.
If you choose to buy gift cards, read below for information on a new holiday threat from criminals.
Besides the usual shoplifting, purse snatching, and pickpocketing, crooks have now found a way to rob you of your gift card balance. If you buy gift cards from a display rack you may become a victim of theft. Crooks are now jotting down the card numbers in the store, waiting a few days, then calling to see how much of a balance THEY have on the card. Once they find the card is "activated", they then go online and start shopping.
You may want to purchase your card from a customer service person, where they do not have the gift cards viewable to the public.

Merry Christmas !!

7 comments:

JJ said...

Thanks!
JJ

lash505 said...

that good info daave thanks.

Alcoholic Brain said...

Good thinking, thanks.

Pam Jarnagin said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Pam Jarnagin said...

Damn! What'll those freakin' scumbag scammers come up with next?? Thanks for the tip, dAAve!

Scott W said...

According to www.snopes.com which investigates urban legends, this is a real fraud but it is relatively rare. The scare is bigger than the actual fraud. And the only real threat to purchasers is when a theif has gotten access to their PIN and makes a card online as a CNP (card not present) purchase. The biggest threat to retailers is employees using the card numbers to activate and then have friends or family shop with the stolen cards.

Anonymous said...

I promise not to leave any gifts in the back of my car...

I can do this...

... because I have NO CAR!

Weeee....