Gift Cards: 3 Tips to Avoid Scams While Shopping Online

Gift cards have become one of the most popular and convenient gifts in our digital age. However, their popularity has also made them a prime target for scammers. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans lost over $228 million to gift card scams last year alone, with the average victim losing around $700. As online shopping continues to grow, so do the sophisticated tactics used by fraudsters to separate you from your money.

Whether you’re purchasing gift cards as presents or using them for your own online shopping, understanding how to protect yourself is essential. This article provides three crucial tips to help you avoid becoming the next victim of scams while shopping online with gift cards.

Understanding Common Gift Card Scams While Shopping Online

Before diving into prevention tips, it’s important to understand how these scams typically work. Gift cards are attractive to scammers because they’re almost impossible to trace, difficult to refund, and can be used almost like cash. When it comes to online shopping, scammers have developed several sophisticated methods to target unsuspecting consumers.

Common gift card scams while shopping online include:

• Tampered physical gift cards sold through online marketplaces: Scammers purchase gift cards, steal the codes, then resell them online. By the time you receive and try to use the card, the balance has already been drained.
• Fake gift card activation websites: These fraudulent sites mimic legitimate retailer websites and trick you into entering your gift card information, which scammers then steal.
• Discounted gift card scams: Fraudsters offer heavily discounted gift cards on social media platforms or online marketplaces. Once you pay, you either receive nothing or a gift card with zero balance.
• Phishing emails offering gift card deals: These emails appear to come from legitimate retailers but contain links to fake websites designed to steal your personal and financial information.

Now that you understand the risks, let’s explore three essential tips to protect yourself from scams while shopping online.

Tip #1: Verify Sellers to Prevent Scams While Shopping Online

The first line of defense against gift card scams while shopping online is to carefully verify who you’re buying from. This simple step can save you from significant financial loss and frustration.

Only Purchase from Authorized Retailers

The safest approach is to purchase gift cards directly from the official retailer’s website or authorized resellers. Major retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart sell gift cards on their official websites, which significantly reduces your risk of encountering scams.

For cryptocurrency users, platforms like Cardstorm.io offer a secure way to purchase gift cards using crypto. Cardstorm stands out as a trusted gift card for crypto service, supporting over 250 cryptocurrencies and providing instant delivery without requiring KYC verification or a bank account. This makes it a reliable option for those looking to spend their crypto on real-world goods and services while avoiding common gift card scams.

Red Flags That Signal Potential Scams

When shopping for gift cards online, be alert for these warning signs:

• Discounts exceeding 20% of the card’s value (legitimate secondary markets rarely offer discounts larger than 10-15%)
• Sellers requesting payment through unusual methods like wire transfers, or other gift cards
• Websites with URLs that slightly misspell a known brand (e.g., “Amaz0n.com” instead of “Amazon.com“)
• Lack of secure payment options or proper contact information
• Poor website design, multiple spelling errors, or low-quality images

Verify Before You Buy

Before making a purchase:

• Check the URL carefully to ensure you’re on the official website
• Look for the padlock symbol in your browser’s address bar indicating a secure connection
• Research unfamiliar gift card marketplaces by checking reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website
• Use credit cards for purchases when possible, as they offer better fraud protection than debit cards or bank transfers
• Be especially cautious of deals promoted through social media or unsolicited emails

Remember: If a gift card deal seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Legitimate businesses cannot afford to sell gift cards at steep discounts, so extreme bargains are a major red flag for scams while shopping online.

Tip #2: Protect Your Personal Information from Scams While Shopping Online

Scammers don’t just want your money—they also want your personal information. Gift card scams are often part of larger identity theft schemes, making it crucial to protect your data while shopping online.

The Connection Between Personal Information and Gift Card Scams

Many gift card scams begin with phishing attempts designed to collect your personal information. Scammers use this data to:

• Create more convincing, personalized scam attempts
• Access your existing accounts
• Open new accounts in your name
• Make unauthorized purchases
• Sell your information to other scammers on the dark web

Best Practices for Information Protection

To safeguard your personal information from scams while shopping online:

• Never provide gift card numbers, PINs, or activation codes to anyone via email, phone, or text
• Be suspicious of websites that ask for excessive personal information to purchase a gift card
• Use unique, strong passwords for each online retailer account
• Enable two-factor authentication whenever available
• Consider using a dedicated email address just for online shopping
• Regularly monitor your credit card and bank statements for unauthorized charges

This is another area where services like Cardstorm provide an advantage—by allowing cryptocurrency purchases without requiring KYC verification, they minimize the personal information exposed during transactions, reducing your vulnerability to identity theft and related gift card scams.

Recognizing Phishing Attempts

Sophisticated phishing emails related to gift cards often:

• Create a false sense of urgency (“Act now before your gift card expires!”)
• Claim there’s a problem with your account that requires immediate action
• Include official-looking logos and formatting
• Contain links to fake websites designed to steal your information
• Request verification of personal or financial information

If you receive suspicious communications about gift cards, don’t click any links. Instead, open a new browser window and manually type the retailer’s web address to check your account or contact customer service directly through official channels.

Tip #3: Check Gift Card Security Features to Avoid Scams While Shopping Online

Even when purchasing from legitimate sources, it’s important to verify the security features of gift cards to protect yourself from scams while shopping online.

Physical Gift Card Security Features

If you receive physical gift cards purchased online:

• Examine the packaging for signs of tampering, such as tears, re-sealed packaging, or exposed PIN codes
• Check that the security code on the back hasn’t been scratched off and covered with a sticker
• Verify that any protective coating over PINs or codes is intact
• Look for signs that barcodes may have been altered or overlaid with fake ones
• Ensure the card’s design matches the official design from the retailer

Digital Gift Card Verification

For e-gift cards:

• Verify the sender’s email address is from the official domain of the retailer
• Check that links in the email direct to the legitimate retailer website
• Look for personalized information that would be difficult for scammers to know
• Be wary of digital gift cards that arrive as attachments rather than in the body of the email
• Immediately check the balance through the official retailer’s website

When using crypto-to-gift-card services like Cardstorm, you benefit from instant digital delivery directly from a trusted platform, eliminating many of the security concerns associated with third-party resellers or physical card tampering.

Documentation Is Your Protection

Always:

• Save receipts for all gift card purchases
• Take screenshots of online gift card orders and confirmations
• Record gift card numbers and PINs in a secure location
• Register the gift card with the retailer when possible
• Check the balance immediately after purchase and periodically thereafter

Immediate Action Steps

As soon as you purchase or receive a gift card:

1. Verify the balance through the official retailer’s website or customer service line
2. If purchasing as a gift, let the recipient know where you bought it and the expected balance
3. Use the card promptly rather than saving it for months, as this reduces the window of opportunity for scammers
4. If you detect any issues, contact the retailer immediately through official channels

By carefully checking security features, you significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to scams while shopping online with gift cards.

Conclusion

Gift cards offer convenience and flexibility for both givers and recipients, but they also present opportunities for scammers. By following these three essential tips—verifying sellers, protecting your personal information, and checking security features—you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to scams while shopping online.

For cryptocurrency users looking for safe ways to utilize their digital assets for everyday purchases, platforms like Cardstorm provide a secure bridge between the crypto world and traditional retail, offering instant gift card delivery for hundreds of popular brands without compromising on security.

Remember that legitimate businesses will never:

• Require payment via gift cards
• Pressure you to make immediate gift card purchases
• Ask you to share gift card numbers and PINs via email, phone, or text
• Offer gift cards at extreme discounts

To stay safe, always buy from trusted sources. At Cardstorm.io, you can purchase gift cards quickly and securely — no scams, no pressure, no hidden tricks.

Skip the risks. Buy smarter with Cardstorm.io.