The Gift Card Grinch Strikes Again: How to Outsmart Holiday Scammers
Gift cards are the go-to holiday gift: quick, easy, and always appreciated. Unfortunately, cybercriminals love them just as much. Meet the “Gift Card Grinch,” the scammer who’s stealing holiday cheer one card at a time.
Gift Cards: The Hacker’s Holiday Favorite
Gift cards are like cash with a pretty bow. They have no names, no refunds, and no way to trace where they go once they are spent. Scammers adore them because they can quickly turn them into money or launder stolen funds through resale sites.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that over $217 million was lost to gift card scams in 2023. The numbers keep climbing every holiday season.
The Grinch’s Playbook
So how does the Gift Card Grinch pull it off? Here are the most common scams:
1. The “Urgent” Boss
You get an email from your “manager” asking you to grab a few gift cards for clients. It looks real, but the email address isn’t quite right. Once you send those codes, they vanish faster than Christmas cookies.
2. The “Customer Support” Con
Scammers pretend to be from Amazon, Apple, or another big retailer claiming there’s an issue with your account. They say the only way to fix it is by paying with a gift card. (Spoiler: it’s not.)
3. The Shelf Snatcher
Ever grab a gift card from the rack at the store? Some scammers pre-scan cards, cover the PINs, and wait for someone to buy and load them. Once the card is activated, they drain the balance before you can say “Happy Holidays.”
How to Outsmart the Grinch
Don’t let your hard-earned money end up in the Grinch’s stocking. Here’s how to keep your gift cards and your holidays safe:
Inspect before you invest: Buy cards kept behind the counter or sealed in packaging.
Keep your receipts: They serve as proof of purchase and can help track stolen balances.
Never pay with gift cards: No real company or government agency will ever ask for gift cards as payment.
Double-check requests: Call or text your boss, friend, or relative if you get a gift card request. Do not trust the email alone.
Use them fast: The longer you wait, the more time scammers have to strike.
Wrap-Up: Keep the Cheer, Lose the Fear
Gift cards make great gifts, but the Grinch is always lurking. A little awareness can go a long way in keeping your holidays merry, bright, and scam-free.
Stay savvy, stay secure, and keep your gift cards out of the Grinch’s hands!
