The question of whether it’s illegal to generate gift card codes may have been on your mind since the first day you encountered POS skimmers. Nowadays, with the advent of Artificial intelligence machines and the Internet of Things, cyber-criminals are increasingly leveraging the ability to create gift cards from scratch. Moreover, there’s an increasing amount of social engineering and Phishing going on as well. To know more about these methods, read on.

POS skimmers generate gift card codes

POS skimmers can be a serious security risk in retail stores. These devices read the magnetic stripe on the back of gift cards and install a fake keypad overlay to trick customers into revealing their card details. Once the POS skimmer has captured the card data, it can be transmitted to the computer or sold on the open market within minutes. These scammers are becoming more common, and are becoming more difficult to detect.

In the past, POS skimmers were clunky and easily detected, so nudges and a quick squeeze could loosen a tampered terminal. But newer models of skimmers are much more advanced and difficult to detect. While a gentle nudge might not necessarily alert you to foul play, jostling a POS terminal won’t reveal the skimmer. Luckily, there are ways to minimize your exposure to such devices.

Artificial intelligence machines

AI is already being used to improve retail operations. This technology helps companies optimize the process of generating gift card codes, enabling them to increase customer satisfaction and increase profitability. With the rise of artificial intelligence, firms can experiment with different incentives and rewards. For example, they could shift money that would otherwise be invested in spot gift card rewards to an initiative to extend family leave. By monitoring changes in J-Scores, reward program owners could evaluate the effect of different options and refine their reward programs accordingly.

AI is expected to drive a significant shift in global economics. Since 2013, investment in AI has increased quickly. Companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook have jumped on the AI bandwagon, making significant bets on developing AI systems and deploying them across their business. In addition, early adopters have already seen tangible business benefits. AI can change entire industries. To see the impact of AI on your company, read on.

Phishing

There are a variety of ways in which people can fall prey to phishing when generating gift card codes. In some cases, phishers will pose as someone you know and ask you for money or gift card codes. You should always stay away from such situations. The FTC warns consumers about this common scam. The most obvious way is to simply not share any of your personal information with these people.

You may receive phishing emails in your inbox asking for personal information. Fortunately, there are ways to spot phishing emails. The Information Security Office has observed a common phishing attack in which scammers pose as AOL employees and request that you confirm your account information or billing information. Sadly, many people fell for this scam, and it got worse when phishers started setting up AIM accounts through the internet. Luckily, AOL added warnings about this scam in its email client and instant messenger.

Social engineering

Scammers are using social engineering to steal the gift card codes of people who aren’t even aware they’ve been tricked. These schemes are usually executed through spoofed or random phone numbers and are designed to lure victims into divulging their personal information. The scammers often pose as legitimate companies in order to steal their personal information, such as credit card numbers. The scams are so widespread, in fact, that the FBI has even issued a warning against using gift cards as a form of payment.

To protect yourself from social engineering scammers, start by educating yourself about online security. Although personal defense is important, you can also educate your employees about the dangers of social engineering. To raise awareness about the risks of social engineering, consider hiring an ethical hacker to conduct free seminars in your company. You can ask them to demonstrate how to hack your account and show you live demonstrations of how they work. If they are able to prove their identity, they’ll be more convincing.