The FTC recommends taking a picture of both the gift card and your purchase receipt. The card information, plus the transaction data on the receipt, can help you report fraud to both the gift card company and the store.

According to a recent survey from the Blackhawk Network, 84% of respondents had planned on purchasing a gift card for the holidays. The data also found that 72% of American consumers were aware of gift card fraud as of this July.

As a way to support local businesses during the holiday season, the City of Sacramento is bringing back the Shop 916 gift card promotion. Starting Friday and carrying on through Feb. 15, 2025, people can purchase gift cards to use at 120 participating Sacramento businesses.

This story is almost certainly untrue, but it has led to a modern holiday staple: the white elephant gift exchange. These gift ideas will not only get you a few chuckles, but will also make your recipient feel (slightly) burdened.

Give your loved ones the gift they actually want for Christmas and beyond: free money. From Etsy to Apple, these are the top ideas to get ahead of your holiday shopping.