Rise in 'Card Draining' Scams Leaves Gift Card Recipients Empty-Handed

The Better Business Bureau reports a 50% increase in gift card scams, with victims finding zero balance on their cards at checkout.

Card draining scams, where thieves tamper with unpurchased gift cards to obtain a barcode number and pin, have seen a 50% increase compared to last year, according to the Better Business Bureau.
Over 1,000 instances of card draining were reported from January through September, up from 822 cases the previous year.
Victims of the scam, like Suzanne Gdovic, found their gift cards to have a zero balance upon checkout. Gdovic was able to get her $200 back from Target after persistent contact with the company.
Scammers tamper with gift cards to obtain its barcode information so that when it’s purchased by unsuspecting shoppers, the scammer can access the funds.
The BBB advises those who feel they’ve fallen prey to gift card scammers to contact the gift card seller, the actual business and government organization supposedly asking for money, and BBB.