Despite your best intentions, it can be difficult to get everyone in your circle a perfect – or at least personal – gift.

So you turn to Plan B: gift cards. Easy to get. Easy to use. Usually welcome.

But, given how prevalent financial scams are these days – and the ease with which they can be carried out using gift cards – it’s a good idea to make sure the money you put on the card will be protected from thieves and fraudsters.

Inspect physical gift cards before buying

Gift cards can be like cash. But the money is accessed using a PIN assigned to the card, so that code should be securely concealed from view when you buy it.

If you’re shopping for a gift card off a rack in a store, “check for signs of tampering,” said Rebecca Plett, an attorney with the marketing practices division at

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