General Discussion

usonian

(23,549 posts) Mon Dec 22, 2025, 09:58 PM Dec 22

Scammers are draining gift cards on the rack. Beware! (CBC)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/scammed-gift-cards-tim-hortons-windsor-9.7021349

'Never again,' says Windsor, Ont., senior after embarrassment of empty gift cards

Mark Duguay says friends couldn't redeem $275 on Tim Hortons cards he bought them

"gift card draining"

"When these cards are in a common area of the store, what these scammers do very well is they take the cards and tamper with that code on the back ... and return those cards to the shelf," Matthews explained.

"So once somebody comes in and buys those gift cards, they are activated at the point of sale. The scammer has [the information], and they can drain the card of everything that the purchaser thought was going to be on the card as a gift."

One way to minimize risk: only buy cards stored behind the counter. Online? Maybe.

6 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Scammers are draining gift cards on the rack. Beware! (CBC) (Original Post) usonian Dec 22 OP

Trump's mercuryblues Dec 22 #1

I DID NOT spray paint the performing arts center. usonian Dec 22 #2

Geez, I had no idea. Abolishinist Dec 22 #3

Its been happening for years. Dont buy cards with the code already scratched BlueWaveNeverEnd Dec 23 #4

I try to do e-gift cards for that reason. summer_in_TX Dec 23 #5

Yeah, that's been going on for 15 years that I know of. C Moon Dec 23 #6

mercuryblues

(16,175 posts)

1. Trump's

Reply to usonian (Original post)

Mon Dec 22, 2025, 10:30 PM

Dec 22

Prison fund... I hope.

usonian

(23,549 posts)

2. I DID NOT spray paint the performing arts center.

Reply to mercuryblues (Reply #1)

Mon Dec 22, 2025, 10:43 PM

Dec 22

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220881737

Except on my computer.

Abolishinist

(2,887 posts)

3. Geez, I had no idea.

Reply to usonian (Original post)

Mon Dec 22, 2025, 11:14 PM

Dec 22

Just today, I wanted to buy a gift card for our home maintenance guy, who for whatever reason (and considering his health problems should not) likes Burger King.

So I stopped by a BK, went inside, and they told me they don't sell gift cards in the store. However, they do accept them, and I can probably find one at Target. So I head over to the nearby Target, found the gift card rack, only to discover they have dollar amounts assigned to them (I thought I could find the card, take it to the checkout, and they would denominate it for whatever I wanted). But no, they were $15 cards. I was going to give him $100, so I would need to buy 6 or 7 cards, which would seem to be a pain in the arse for him. I opted out (the line was long as well), deciding instead to go online and do a digital one.

But yeah, both amazing and disgusting how easy it is to cheat others out of their hard-earned money in this digital world.

BlueWaveNeverEnd

(12,848 posts)

4. Its been happening for years. Dont buy cards with the code already scratched

Reply to Abolishinist (Reply #3)

Tue Dec 23, 2025, 12:09 AM

Dec 23

summer_in_TX

(4,044 posts)

5. I try to do e-gift cards for that reason.

Reply to usonian (Original post)

Tue Dec 23, 2025, 12:45 AM

Dec 23

They can't be altered or intercepted as far as I know.

You could get a prepaid Visa e-card, for example.

C Moon

(13,468 posts)

6. Yeah, that's been going on for 15 years that I know of.

Reply to usonian (Original post)

Tue Dec 23, 2025, 01:01 AM

Dec 23

My wife bought some for the company she worked for, and employees began complaining that the cards had already been spent.
One we got was the same. Supposed to be $50, you log in and check it. Something like 23 cents.

Reply to this discussion