Protect Yourself from Holiday Gift Card Scams: The Ultimate Guide

Police are warning Americans about the "card draining" scam, where scammers steal gift card information from the back of cards on display, wait for them to be activated, and then drain the funds. Consumers are advised to carefully check gift card packages for signs of tampering and to report any suspicious cards to store cashiers. To increase safety, it is recommended to purchase gift cards directly from retailer websites and use credit cards for added purchase protections.