Mon, 22 Dec 2025

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 Rise in gift card scams as victims lose millions

Authorities say they have seen an increase in gift cards being used in fraud in recent years.

* Trading Standards and Report Fraud warn shoppers to be vigilant when buying gift cards, as fraudsters target them online and in-store
* Experts say better bank protection has led criminals to use gift cards as a new way to steal money
* Gift card scammers often drain the funds from the cards or trick people into buying them to transfer money without a trace
* One victim, Emma Johnson, had £120 stolen from her family's gift cards after they were tampered with at a Tesco store
* Report Fraud and Trading Standards are urging shoppers to be cautious and check gift cards carefully before buying
* The Home Office says it is committed to bringing perpetrators of gift card fraud to justice and will announce a new fraud strategy in the new year
* Industry experts say retailers and issuers spend a lot on security, transaction monitoring, and staff training to prevent gift card scams
  >>