Beware of Gift Card Scam: Thieves Drain Balances, Leaving Shoppers Empty-Handed

Police departments and the Better Business Bureau are warning shoppers about a new scam involving gift cards, where scammers place their own barcodes on top of legitimate ones. Once the victim loads money onto the card and activates it, the scammers drain the account, leaving the recipient with nothing. Target acknowledges the prevalence of gift card scams and encourages vigilance among its team members. Shoppers are advised to visually inspect gift cards for any signs of tampering or additional stickers.