Holiday Scams To Watch Out For In Christmas 2015

It might be a couple of bucks. You give them your debit and they will scan it on the porch. Gift cards have ballooned into a $32 billion a year business, about half of shoppers saying they plan to buy one this year, according to a Consumer Reports survey. Giving a bank gift card makes it easier for the person who gets it. “Bank gift cards are easier to redeem than store gift cards”.

A new “Star Wars” movie installment, “The Force Awakens”, opens next week, and the BBB says an email, with an official logo and link to the movie trailer, is making the rounds meant to phish for personal information.

The Reloadable Walmart Gift Card is one high-profile example of this practice, which is aimed at promoting loyalty and gathering useful consumer analytics.

“One effect of gift giving (and why retailers love it) is the lock-in effect that gift cards bring to firms”. Dr. Tony Robinson, marketing professor at Augusta University, offers tips to keep in mind when buying these plastic presents.

The sheriff’s office is warning residents to “be wary” when receiving packages during the holiday season.

Here’s a list of 12 scams from the Better Business Bureau and law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for as you hit the malls or shop online.

Mobile is hot, but still not ready for primetime: E-gift cards have been gradually gaining traction in recent years. Thieves are delivering attractive holiday baskets in hopes of gaining access to your credit card. In many cases, you can garner more value from this type of redemption strategy than redeeming for cash. Some sellers will take your money and run, leaving you without the gift or money to buy it elsewhere.

CardHub’s Gift Card Exchange facilitates the sale of gift cards for free. Free gift cards: Ads or emails offering free gift cards are just a ploy to get your personal information, which can be used for identity theft.

The gift cards with the lowest resale value are from Google Play (79 percent) and H&M (74 percent).