{"id":11822,"date":"2025-09-15T16:05:16","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T15:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/expertcomment\/?p=11822"},"modified":"2025-09-15T16:14:56","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T15:14:56","slug":"how-to-stay-safe-from-gift-card-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/expertcomment\/how-to-stay-safe-from-gift-card-fraud\/","title":{"rendered":"How to stay safe from gift card fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why are scams rising?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gift cards are sold like products but used like money, and unlike cash in a wallet or funds in a bank, they lack strong protections. The growth of digital shopping, self-service checkouts, and emailed codes means fewer staff safeguards and more systems for criminals to exploit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why criminals love gift cards<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They\u2019re low risk, high reward. Unlike bank cards, gift cards are almost impossible to trace and typically have weak fraud protections.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How scams work<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In stores<\/strong>: criminals scratch off PINs, swap barcodes, or reseal packaging so buyers unknowingly fund their cards.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Online: <\/strong>bots attack balance-check portals, cycling through card\/PIN combinations until they find valid ones.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Practical steps for consumers<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Buy safely: only from official stores or websites, ideally behind the counter.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inspect and act quickly: check packaging, use cards soon after purchase, and keep receipts.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Spot scams: if someone asks you to pay a debt, fee, or fine with a gift card, it\u2019s always a scam.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stay alert: never share gift card details by phone, email, or text.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What retailers should do<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Staff training<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Teach cashiers to spot tampered cards or suspicious bulk purchases.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tamper-proof packaging<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make it obvious if a card has been opened or altered.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Stronger tech protections&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Add CAPTCHAs and rate limits on balance-check systems so bots can\u2019t guess numbers.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Consumer protection policies<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Be more willing to refund or replace cards when fraud is clearly proven.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Require registration<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cards should only become spendable after being registered with a unique receipt code. That way, just knowing the card number and PIN won\u2019t be enough for criminals.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The role of government and regulators<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Set security standards<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Just like PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) rules for bank cards, introduce minimum protections for gift cards (e.g., tamper-proof packaging, stronger PINs, secure balance-check portals).&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Mandate consumer rights<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Require retailers to refund or replace balances where fraud is proven, instead of leaving consumers with no protection.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Oversight and enforcement&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Regulators like the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority, in the UK) could audit retailers\u2019 systems and penalise those who don\u2019t secure their gift card platforms.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Public awareness campaigns<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Run national campaigns (like those for phishing or online fraud) to warn consumers that gift cards are a top target for scammers.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Data sharing<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Encourage retailers, banks, and law enforcement to share intelligence on gift card fraud patterns, so scams can be spotted and stopped faster.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Right now, gift cards fall through the cracks: sold like products, but used like money. The government could change that by setting standards and making sure consumers get the same protection as they do with bank cards.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dr Hannan Azhar is Senior Lecturer in Computing, AI and Cyber Security in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canterbury.ac.uk\/about-us\/our-schools\/school-of-sciences-psychology-arts-humanities-computing-engineering-sports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">School of Sciences, Psychology, Arts and Humanities, Computing, Engineering and Sports.<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With a recent rise in gift card fraud, Dr Hannan Azhar, Senior Lecturer in Computing, AI and Cyber Security, outlines practical ways consumers can stay safe from scammers.  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