Gift cards, a popular choice for gifts, have become a prime target for scammers, warns Jessie Schmidt, Vice President of the Better Business Bureau’s South Dakota Region.
A recent BBB study reveals a 50% increase in reported gift card scams in 2023.
Schmidt advises heightened caution, emphasizing red flags like demands for gift card payments.
Surprisingly, the 18 to 34 age group is more susceptible to fraud. Beyond gift cards, shoppers are urged to scrutinize too-good-to-be-true deals, especially on social media, and opt for local businesses to support during the holiday season.
The BBB encourages reporting scams for a collective defense against sophisticated scammers.