Criminals in WNY are buying gift cards with stolen credit card numbers

These render greater benefits in comparison with the gift cards by e-com sites or retailers.

You might find it impersonal, but gift cards are the most sought-after type of present for the holidays.

The BBB told scammers are buying them with stolen credit card numbers.

It didn’t make a difference what the gift card was for, according to the survey; in every category – apparel, home décor, books, food and beverage, etc. – a majority of respondents said they wanted a gift card.

Though the use of gift cards has shot up in the country in recent times, yet many do not know much about their uses and limitations. The most common value given is between $25 and $50, across all income levels, Bankrate reports. Authorities say 39 gift cards were used, each worth $500.

Hochul says be aware of large purchases made with multiple cards. “eGift cards are popular for several reasons”.

Walmart: Gift cards start at just five bucks. They’re good to go online or in Walmart or Sam’s Club locations. These sites let users buy and sell cards while the sites act as a form of escrow.

Google Play: No digital gift cards for GPlay, and they don’t even allow you to gift digital content. “Consumers are becoming more comfortable with richer personalization options and convenience especially as mobile payments services like Apple Pay and Android Pay grow in popularity”.

As the growing secondary market for gift cards proves, there is a “wrong fit”. “Gift cards continue to be the most requested gift for nine years in a row, and we are confident this trajectory will continue”, Kaplan says.

Because FYI, not ALL cards are created equally. Gift cards can also be emailed or sent to a text number.

But in a society that suffers from a frightful, growing lack of civility – where people are quick to shout down everyone who holds any belief that does not conform to their own – we need to increase communication and thoughtfulness, and the gift card typically fails at that. So how do you buy gift cards for less than face value? “Some expiration dates only apply for the physical card, not the funds loaded to the card”, Bankrate says.

Monday, Hochul was joined by the Better Business Bureau of Western New York and a representative from the U.S. Secret Service to warn both consumers and retailers of crimes involving gift cards purchased with fraudulent credit cards.