Gift Card Scams

This is a message from Wycombe District Neighbourhood Watch Association.

Please note that criminals are now targeting gift cards before they are even sold.

By tampering with cards on display in shops, scammers download the barcode and wait for someone to buy and activate it.  Once activated, the money is swiftly drained by the scammer, leaving the recipient with a worthless card.  The latest available data shows 6,229 reports of this scam in the UK with victims losing almost £13.5m.  This method is particularly sneaky because victims often don’t realise that they have been scammed until they try to use the card.  Retailers may be unaware of the tampering and refunds can be difficult to obtain.

How to protect yourself:

If you suspect fraud, report it to the retailer where you purchased the gift card and report it to www.reportfraud.police.uk online or by calling 0300 123 2040.