If you have a Target gift card and you’ve lost it or stolen it, you may be wondering if it’s possible to hack gift cards. It is possible for fraudsters to clone gift cards, copy the card numbers and copy the activation codes. In this article, you’ll learn how to prevent a scammer from using your card without your knowledge. You can also protect yourself from scammers by reading this article.

Target gift cards

While the security features on gift cards are becoming increasingly more advanced, the vulnerability is still present. For example, a hacker could use an automated program called Caput to grab a stack of gift cards and take a picture of the back of each one. Depending on the situation, he or she could check the card number periodically until the card is activated. Although this method is not recommended for use in retail stores, it is possible for a skilled hacker to make money from gift cards.

A security firm called Flashpoint found that conversations about “cracked” gift cards increased dramatically during the summer and early 2017 in criminal web forums. Discussions had been nearly nonexistent before 2016. In fact, one vendor on the dark-web marketplace AlphaBay made over $400k in a single year by selling stolen gift cards for more than a dozen brands. However, the FBI has shut down the website. The FBI has since made the site inaccessible, but the discussion of “cracked” gift cards has continued.

Scammers clone gift cards

The National Retail Federation estimates that nearly $50 billion is spent each year on gift cards, but that number is far higher if you consider a Beaverton man’s crime. He cloned gift cards by electronically copying them and using the stolen information to purchase goods in just a few weeks. The police caught him and he pleaded guilty to computer crimes. The Beaverton man has a history of stealing gift cards, but this case highlights just how dangerous these scammers are.

When a victim receives an email from a remote worker, beware that it could easily be a scam. Often, the scammer asks for a gift card that doesn’t work and asks for the card number to purchase an item. If the recipient doesn’t realize that the transaction is a scam, the fraudulent remote worker will charge the card to hundreds of dollars and disappear. In such cases, the victim may be left with hundreds of dollars in credit card debt.

Scammers copy card numbers

You may have noticed that scammers often use older credit card numbers when trying to swindle you. These fraudsters use a “botnet” to test out card numbers and make purchases on low-cost, e-commerce websites. As they test card numbers, they record the ones that work. Once they’ve verified the validity of a number, they can then use it to make larger purchases. However, you can’t be sure if you’re being scammed.

Scammers clone card activation codes

Fraudsters clone card activation codes by copying the numbers on a sales rack, hiding them behind scratch-off covers, and then using them to drain customers’ accounts. Activation codes are critical to stealing a person’s money, as they allow a scammer to use the card without leaving the merchant’s hands. This type of fraud is most common with gift cards, as customers often forget to activate them.

Scammers can also clone gift cards by copying the barcode from the gift card onto another card and then reactivating it for a transaction. While there are various protections against these scams, experienced fraudsters can often work around them. One such technique involves copying the barcode on a gift card onto a different card. When a shopper attempts to activate the cloned card, the fraudulent activity will continue.

Scammers steal gift card balances

Scammers are stealing the gift card balances of unsuspecting consumers. They use gift cards to trick users into giving their personal information. This tactic is similar to classic phishing attacks in that the scammers request personal information from their victims. They then sell this information on the dark web, enabling them to commit identity fraud. As a result, bad guys are continually thinking of new ways to monetize stolen data.

Most scams begin with a phone call, with the scam artist pretending to be a representative of the IRS or a tech support representative. The scam artist will also use various forms of communication such as phishing emails, texts, and phone calls to convince victims to hand over their card balances. The crooks play on the three main emotions – fear, hope, sympathy, and urgency. If the victim gives out his or her card details, the scam artist will be able to get instant access to his or her funds.