Police Warn Consumers of New Fake Barcode Gift Card Scam
The holiday season is one of the busiest seasons for gift sales. In a lot of circumstances, people choose to buy friends and family gift cards as presents. Gift cards to restaurants and retail stores are a convenient way to give someone a gift. However, several news agencies are reporting an increase in gift card scams.
According to a news report published on 9news.com, law enforcement authorities are warning consumers about a new gift card scam. The gift card scam occurs when the customer purchases the gift card at the retail store. The scam works by tricking the customer into buying gift cards with barcodes created by the scammers. These fake barcodes are placed on top of the actual gift card barcodes that are sold at retail stores. When the customer purchases the gift card, their money is added to the scammer's card rather than the gift card that was purchased.
One victim of the scam reported that she bought a $500 Visa gift card and found out later that her Visa gift card had no funds available on the card. The following tips can help you avoid being a victim of this gift card scam:
- Check the gift card's back prior to purchasing it. Look for indications of tampering, such as a barcode sticker.
- Be sure the gift card's barcode number matches the number printed on the card's packaging.
- Select a gift card that is in the middle or back of the display rack, as those may be less likely to have been altered.
Montlick Injury Attorneys wishes you and your loved ones a happy and safe holiday season.
https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/scam-gift-card-fake-barcode/73-66b8a82d-0d63-456c-a95f-aece1b06fc33