A lot of gift card sales and arbitration companies have struggled financially and shut down over the last few years. Read more: Are you being scammed? Here's how to know and what to do A checkered history of gift card companiesįirst, some history. Before you finish holiday shopping or try to return unwanted gift cards in your wallet, read on for ways to keep your money and identity safe. Here's information that will help you protect yourself and steer clear of nefarious activities while purchasing or selling gift cards online. Unlike unauthorized charges on your credit card, any money you lose on a gift card is likely gone for good. But it's important to be careful which service you choose, as there are no overarching consumer protections for gift card transactions. The cards can even be partially used, and you do it all from the convenience of your couch. Gift card middlemen allow you to buy and sell gift cards online or send them to others. That's a false claim and a phishing tactic.Īnd then there are third-party gift card websites offering to buy from and sell to consumers, which is where it gets tricky. While acquiring gift cards at valid locations and sites is safe (since cards are activated upon checkout), you should always avoid websites that advertise as a "gift code generator" or anything like it. That makes them a very convenient gift to give and receive at the holidays.īut their wide availability also comes with some dangers, with gift card scams becoming more common. Gift cards are popular for a reason, and you can buy them practically anywhere: retailers, grocery stores, restaurants and sites like Amazon.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |