Watch Out For This Gift Card Scam In Texas

As we work through the holidays, the last thing we're thinking about is being scammed right? All these great deals and fun gift ideas pop up in our Facebook feeds or other things.

The problem is that scams should be one of the FIRST things we think about before we jump on something that seems too good to be true.

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Scams are all over the place in Texas, but some are a lot trickier to spot than others. Some aren't visible with the naked eye, like a new gift card scam that is happening in stores.

When you purchase a gift card in a physical store, it isn't activated until it's been scanned at the register and paid for, right? You know that barcode that's showing through the envelope the gift card is in. It's only there for the store to scan it. Once it's been scanned, that barcode means nothing.

When you open the gift card, there's the scratch off area that reveals a cod that you enter in order to be able to use it. The only gift cards that DON'T have this typically are ones that act like a debit card or restaurant gift cards.

What people are doing are taking these gift cards off the rack and taking them home. They heat up the glue that holds the envelope together so they can carefully remove the gift card without ripping the paper.

Once the gift card is removed, they're cutting off the portion that has the code on it, sliding the barcode part of the card back into the envelope, then resealing it. Once that is done, they take them back to a store and put them back on the rack.

The code is still no good to them at that moment. They keep the codes and check them often until they become active. How does that happen? You purchase one of the gift cards, get it scanned at the register, then walk out of the store not knowing you've purchased a severed gift card.

Now the code is active, and the person holding the code uses it quickly before they have a chance to try and inactivate it. The worst part? Gift cards are typically non-refundable because they can't prove they haven't already been used.

There is a way for you to check if you're purchasing a full gift card. Before you take it to the register, feel the whole envelope. You'll be able to tell whether there is a full gift card in there or not. Compare it to others on the rack if you aren't sure. This will save you the headache and embarrassment of gifting someone a gift card they can't actually use.