With the holiday season in full swing, a cautionary tale has emerged for those considering gift card purchases. Scammers have been targeting gift cards, leaving recipients with drained balances before they can even use them. The unfortunate victims of this deceit include a children’s charity.
RecoveryKids, a non-profit dedicated to providing holiday gifts to children of parents in addiction treatment centers, has assisted over 1,400 children this year alone. Their mission involves purchasing gifts and gift cards for these families. However, a recent incident at a Shoppers Drug Mart in Pitt Meadows saw a $500 gift card intended for a family in need fall into the hands of scammers.
The prepaid visa was quickly emptied by fraudsters, leaving the family unable to use it for their holiday needs. Alexis Root, the founder of the organization, expressed her dismay at the situation, highlighting the emotional impact on the affected family.
Following the incident, Root shared the story on social media, prompting others to come forward with similar experiences. The scamming scheme typically involves tampering with gift cards on display to obtain their information or duplicate them. Subsequently, the scammers drain the card’s value once it is activated, preventing the rightful recipients from benefiting.
Root emphasized the need for tighter security measures on gift cards, urging retailers to treat them as cash equivalents. While Loblaw, the parent company of Shoppers Drug Mart, has refunded the charity the $500, Root continues to advocate for enhanced protections on gift cards.