In this interview, security analyst Robert Siciliano warns consumers about the surge in gift‑card scams during the holiday season. He advises avoiding discounted or used gift cards sold on auction sites, steering clear of unsolicited email or web offers and pop‑ups that promise too‑good‑to‑be‑true deals, and never providing personal information—such as Social Security numbers or addresses—in exchange for a card. Siciliano stresses the importance of reading each card’s terms and conditions to understand expiration policies and refund possibilities, and recommends purchasing only from reputable retailers (e.g., Amazon, Best Buy). He also outlines basic digital hygiene: keeping antivirus, anti‑spyware, anti‑phishing tools, and firewalls up‑to‑date, and using debit cards that can be quickly deactivated if compromised. The overall message is cautious vigilance rather than panic.
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They strike. 80% of holiday shoppers snatching up gift cards this year, and don't scammers know it? Now they're coming up with new ways to rip you off. To security analyst Robert Siciliano on what to look out for. All right, Robert, I've got my own list. Hello. Actually, on what to look out for, first and foremost, I'm especially cautious of discounted gift cards that may be at all auction sites. I wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole, would you?
Yeah, certainly. You don't know who's behind them. Used cards, you don't know if they've been scratched or, or, or, or, or deaded. Usually you want to do business with those who you know, who you like, and who you trust with established reputations.
Okay, and I would beware of unsolicited web offers coming at me in the mail or something like that, or on the web. I wouldn't, again, wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole.
Yeah, certainly if you receive an email that has a too-good-to-be-true offer for a gift card, or even a pop-up for that matter, chances are it's a scam.
Is it really common though? I mean, we're making a big deal out of this, but are the scammers really out there looking at gift cards in particular?
There are bad guys out there in full force, 24/7, 365, especially this time of the year, and gift cards are a form of cash, and ultimately they know that they can turn that opportunity into cash for themselves, so we definitely So you definitely have to be on the lookout.
Now here's what really worries me. I would never give any kind of personal information in return for a gift card because I don't just lose money with that, I could lose— it's identity theft. That's what's wrapped up in that.
Correct. You know, you should not be giving out, say, a Social Security number in exchange for a gift card. Sometimes there might be contests of some sort that might ask for additional personal information— names, addresses, phone numbers, and so forth. Generally, if you're going to buy a gift card, It might require a credit card number, and that's about it.
Am I right in saying that some of these stores, like a retailer who offers these gift cards, they keep the money if the gift card is not used? You don't get it back in any way, shape, or form?
Well, you do need to look at the terms of service, the terms and conditions with each card, making sure that they are— that they don't expire, that you use it before that might occur, and make sure that you're doing business with a reputable store that isn't essentially going to cancel that card on you within 6 months.
So wrap it up for me here. Should I really be that worried?
So I don't worry about any of this stuff, but what I do is I make sure that my PC has updated antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-phishing, and a firewall. I only do business with organizations that I know, like, and trust. Generally, I buy from, like, you know, Amazon or Best Buy or somebody like that that I know. Other than that, use those debit cards quickly in case You know, bad guys do have access to the information on them.
We got it. All right, Robert Siciliano, we thank you very much for joining us, sir. Appreciate it. Thank you.
