Beware of Gift Card Scammers Draining Holiday Funds

Law enforcement officials are warning holiday shoppers about the increasing trend of gift card theft, with criminals stealing funds by tampering with gift cards and replacing their barcodes. The stolen gift cards are then used by unsuspecting victims, who load money onto them, only for the funds to be quickly transferred to offshore accounts. Recent arrests have highlighted the prevalence of this crime, with experts advising shoppers to purchase gift cards from secure locations, closely inspect them for tampering, and consider using cash as an alternative.