00:00Anyone planning to hand out gift cards this holiday season should take a few precautions to make sure their money ends up in the right hands.
00:09The good news, staying safe doesn't require tech expertise or detective skills, just a little extra attention before you buy.
00:17A big part of avoiding scams starts with the cards themselves.
00:21When purchasing physical gift cards in a store, it's essential to inspect them before proceeding to the checkout line.
00:27Another trick is the fake barcode scam.
00:30Scammers sometimes place a sticker over the real barcode on the back of a card, redirecting your purchase to an account they control instead.
00:38The most reliable alternative is to skip the store rack entirely and purchase digital or physical cards directly from reputable online retailers.
00:47Once you make a purchase, keeping good records can save headaches later.
00:51If you do get caught in a scam, reporting it may help prevent further fraud.
00:55Contact the card issuer right away and notify the Fed.
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