Reported by: DANIELLE LETENYEI

As the holidays get closure, you may plan on buying gift cards for friends and family members, but beware! There is a gift card scam out there that fraudsters are using to dupe you out of money.

In the gift card scam, the thieves print and place their own barcode over the real barcode. When the barcode is scanned at check out, the cash value is actually added to the scammer’s card rather than the one you purchase.

Another way crooks are stealing gift cardsis by removing the gift card from its package and sneaking in a used gift card in its place. So, when you go to use the card, you find that there isn’t a remaining balance on it.

The best thing you can do is to carefully examine the gift card and its packaging before you purchase it. Run your finger over the barcode. If the scammers placed their own barcode onto the card, the fake barcode will seem slightly raised.

You should also ask the store clerk to check the serial number that comes up when they scan the card to make sure it matches the code on the card.

To ensure the gift card hasn’t been swapped out for a used card, check the packaging to see if there are any slits on the sides or other damage.

Read full report: https://marketrealist.com/personal-finance/gift-card-scam-barcode/