• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Important warning issued to people buying their loved ones a gift card this Christmas

Home> News> UK News

Published 12:18 9 Dec 2024 GMT

Important warning issued to people buying their loved ones a gift card this Christmas

Brits have had their gift cards raided by criminals 'waiting to steal your money'

Tom Earnshaw

Tom Earnshaw

A Christmas gift card warning has been issued to all Brits thinking of gifting or receiving one this year, with criminals 'waiting and checking' to steal your money.

At this point, who hasn't received or sent out a gift card when the big festive day comes around?

They can be a slightly more thoughtful way of just putting cash in a card or envelope, with at least some thought process behind it. And you can get more bang for your buck too, with multiple deals out there giving you more money than you've spent for deciding to gift exclusively to spent at one store or outlet.

And, if we're honest, they aren't half a last-minute win if you've forgotten about a certain someone in the family or friendship circle.

But for Christmas 2024, the criminals are out in full force to ruin any fun relating to a gift card. With the scam already going wild in the USA, it is now heading across the Atlantic to the United Kingdom, according to ITV This Morning's consumer editor, Alice Beer.

Advert

"So this is happening all across the United States but I'm not seeing these warnings massively across the UK," she said in a segment on the ITV show with presenters Cat Deeley and Dermot O'Leary.

Alice Beer has explained the warning (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Green Tree Badge)
Alice Beer has explained the warning (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Green Tree Badge)

"But you will. And in January, you'll be thinking, 'Oh gosh, I remember Alice Beer barking on about this'.

"So the fraudster goes to the point of sale. They take the gift card they take the number. They then reseal it.

"The consumer gets a gift card, goes and adds value to it, and the fraudster is waiting and checking the balance on that gift card until it's loaded and spending the money."

Advert

Beer said she spoke to someone the night before the clip aired on ITV who had fallen victim to this scam.

The victim, a woman called Anne from Liverpool, had bought two £200 gift cards for John Lewis and Apple.

"When she gave them to her brothers, one a policeman, one a solicitor, they went to spend them... there was no value on them," Beer said.

"It's happening all the time."

Make sure your gift card seal is not tampered with (ITV)
Make sure your gift card seal is not tampered with (ITV)

Advert

Shops are, thankfully, learning from this with big signs appearing in some places such as supermarkets where gift cards are regularly picked up. The packaging is also warning customers not to buy a gift card that looks tampered with.

Beer also showed the back of an Apple gift card, which has a 'tamper-proof little seal on it'.

"So when I took this to the till, they peeled this off," she said.

"But I think, possibly, somebody could possibly stick this back down again... just examine the card.

"If there's any sign of tampering when you take it to the till, check with the cashier before you load it because this is going to be a massive thing this Christmas."

Advert

With the money on a gift card being untraceable, that is exactly why criminals are targeting them. So be safe out there.

Featured Image Credit: ITV

Topics: ITV, This Morning, Christmas, Crime, Shopping

Tom Earnshaw
Tom Earnshaw

Tom joined LADbible Group in 2024, currently working as SEO Lead across all brands including LADbible, UNILAD, SPORTbible, Tyla, UNILAD Tech, and GAMINGbible. He moved to the company from Reach plc where he enjoyed spells as a content editor and senior reporter for one of the country's most-read local news brands, LancsLive. When he's not in work, Tom spends his adult life as a suffering Manchester United supporter after a childhood filled with trebles and Premier League titles. You can't have it all forever, I suppose.

X

@TREarnshaw

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
5 hours ago
  • ProfessionalStudioImages/GettyProfessionalStudioImages/Getty
    3 hours ago

    Expert debunks common myth around protein consumption when exercising

    Alan Aragon set the record straight about how and when you should get your protein in

    News
  • YouTube/VitalView3DYouTube/VitalView3D
    3 hours ago

    Simulation shows the terrifying effects lack of sleep can have on the body

    The visuals should scare you into getting an early night

    News
  • Getty Images/Thierry FalseGetty Images/Thierry False
    3 hours ago

    Truth behind 'human zoos' in popular holiday destinations where women forced to 'perform' for tourists

    Tourists visiting villages in the north of Thailand sparked concerns about ethical travelling and exploitation

    News
  • Facebook/Amie UptonFacebook/Amie Upton
    5 hours ago

    How legal 'loophole' meant that funeral director could keep body of baby in living room 'watching cartoons'

    One parent claims she was left 'screaming' after seeing how Amie Upton was caring for her deceased son

    News
  • Baby Guinness warning issued to millions of Brits this Christmas
  • Martin Lewis has issued a warning to people giving Christmas gift vouchers as presents this year
  • Cadbury Secret Santa gives people chance to send loved ones’ favourite chocolate for free this Christmas
  • Brits issued warning over returning Christmas gifts