I just saw this on another forum and thought that I should pass it along:

The crooks have found a way to rob you of your gift card balance.

If you buy Gift Cards from a display rack that has various store cards you may become a victim of theft.

Crooks are now jotting down the card numbers in the store and then they wait a few days and call to see how much of a balance THEY have on the card. Once they find the card is "activated", they go online and start shopping. You may want to purchase your card from a customer service person, where they do not have the Gift Cards viewable to the public.


http://www.snopes.com/fraud/sales/giftcard.asp


Sheesh....

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Bevogal

Thanks for the heads up, that's just plain crappy.

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man i guess nothing is safe anymore i was planning on going to walgreens tomorrow to buy some i saw they carry a lot of different places gift cards i hope they are behind a counter. maybe they need to hid the numbers under a scratch bar or something.

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Thanks for the heads up. What the heck is wrong with some people today?

Thanks for the warning.

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Don't dream it. Be it.

Thank you for the information. I have brought giftcards on a rack and turned out ok, but it might not next time. The site you posted had alot of helpful information in it. I won't be buying again from a rack in a store where anyone get access to it.

I saw this on the news the other day.

I bought a gift card from a rack by the checkout. I picked one from the back, I assume they're ok of you get them off a rack near a checker. I can't imagine they'd stand there and let someone fumble through them all.....? But I guess who knows.

Lisa

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It's wanting what you've got"

I got this in an email from a friend.
It stinks that you can't even buy a giftcard

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Dawnie
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If there is a will there is a way!

Good-grief! What people think of these days. Stealing the numbers from the card would never even cross my mind! Unbelievable!! Thanks for the info. I will make sure I pass it on to family & friends!!

My sister was telling me about that the other day! What will the crooks think of next???!!

Now I am concerned--bought lots of gift cards in $10 and $5 denominations to go with little gifts for teachers and service people (i.e. mailman, garbageman) from Starbucks and Target. Hope that the recipients don't end up with useless cards! How would we know in advance?

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thanks for the heads up! I heard it on the news and am just so saddened that people actually sit down and think of ways to steal from people at Christmas (or any other time but especially the holidays)

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

You can always call the 800 # on the back of the card and check the balance, couldn't you??