Gift cards on your holiday shopping list?

Of course. Aren’t they on everyone’s?

They’re the perfect gift when you don’t know what to get.

Provided the money you spend on the card actually gets to the recipient.

Police in Boca Baton on Monday warned consumers about a scam that is redirecting that money elsewhere.

Scammers are printing out their own barcodes and placing them over the actual barcode at retailers. When the card is activated, the money is added to the scammer’s card instead of the card being purchased.

The warning was prompted by the discovery of fraudulent bar codes on gift cards during a routine check by a retail employee.

ADVERTISEMENT

To protect yourself, police suggest the following: