There are a few ways to avoid becoming a victim of eGift card fraud. First, only buy eGift cards from reputable sources. Second, make sure you trust the person you are giving the eGift card to. Finally, keep an eye on your eGift card balance and use it as soon as possible.
In this article I will talk about the first two points.
When you buy an eGift card from a popular, reputable source there is less of a chance that your Gift card purchase was fraudulent. If unauthorized charges are placed on the credit card or debit card that was used to buy the Gift card, then the source may be liable for the charges. For example, if you buy an eGift card from Walmart.com and unauthorized charges are placed on your credit card, then Walmart may be liable for the charges. So, by buying an eGift card from a reputable source you may be able to get your money back if something goes wrong.
Likewise, if you buy an eGift card from a reputable source for a business like Starbucks or Walmart, then the chances of your eGift card being used for something other than the intended purchase are much lower. If someone steals your credit card information to make unauthorized purchases, they would probably not target an eGift card because it is a) not a credit card and b) it will only be accepted at the company that issued it.
For example, if someone steals your credit card information to make an unauthorized purchase from Walmart, then they might get away with the charge because your credit card is not registered to Walmart so you would have no idea who made the transaction until you get your credit card statement. On the other hand, if someone steals your eGift card information to make an unauthorized purchase, you would know exactly who made the charge because the person would have to show proof of purchase when they used your eGift card.
Finally, only buy eGift cards in amounts that you need or are willing to lose. If you are planning on spending $20 in a store, then buy an eGift card for that amount rather than buying two $10 eGift cards. That way if your eGift card gets lost or stolen, you will not have lost half of your funds.
If you feel like you need more money on an eGift card than the amount you have purchased, then you can always ask for a store credit or a refund. Many companies will issue a refund to your original form of payment if you do not want to use the eGift card.
So, these are a few ways to avoid becoming a victim of eGift card fraud. By following these simple tips you can rest assured that your eGift card is safe and secure.
