The fake barcode on gift card scam is a new way for scammers to steal money from unsuspecting victims. In this scam, the scammer will print out a fake barcode that matches the barcode of a popular gift card, such as a Visa or Mastercard gift card. They will then place this fake barcode over the real barcode on a gift card that they have purchased. When the victim purchases the gift card, the cashier will scan the fake barcode, which will load the money onto the scammer’s gift card instead of the victim’s gift card.
There are a few things that you can do to avoid falling victim to this scam:
- Examine the back of the gift card before you buy it. Look for signs of tampering, such as a barcode sticker.
- Lightly Scratch the Bar Code Area. This might highlight that the bar code is on a sticker, if so, don’t buy it.
- Make sure the gift card’s barcode number matches the number on the packaging. You can do this by looking through the window on the back of the packaging.
- Buy gift cards from reputable retailers. This will help to reduce the chances of buying a gift card that has already been tampered with.
If you think that you may have been a victim of this scam, you should contact the gift card company immediately. They may be able to help you to cancel the gift card and get your money back.
Here are some additional tips to help you avoid falling victim to gift card scams:
- Never buy gift cards from online marketplaces or auction sites. These are often the most common places where gift card scams are found.
- Be wary of any deals that seem too good to be true. If you see a gift card for sale that is significantly cheaper than the retail price, it is probably a scam.
- Never give out your gift card PIN to anyone. The PIN is the only way to activate and use a gift card, so it is important to keep it safe.
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