Joel Carillet / iStock.com
Gift cards are often a quick and easy way to ensure that your gift is appreciated and put to good use. They are also a goldmine for criminals.
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A recent study conducted by AmeriSpeak Omnibus for AARP found that slightly more than a third of American adults have been targeted by scams seeking payment by gift card and about a quarter of consumers in the U.S. have given or received a gift card that had no funds on it.
Gift cards are popular with scammers because they’re easy for people to find and buy and they have fewer protections for buyers compared to some other payment options. They’re like cash — once the card is used, the money on it is gone.
Experts are warning that cards might be compromised by criminals on retail racks before they’re taken off the shelf and then drained of their value as soon as the cards are activated. Criminals are also…
