When “The Perfect Gift” Isn’t: Why Many Canadians Quietly Skipped Gift Cards This Christmas
This year, something subtle happened in my family: no gift cards.
No big discussion. No warning story exchanged over dinner. Just an unspoken shift — and in hindsight, a sensible one.
Across Canada, gift card scams have been quietly spreading, particularly involving major retailers like Shoppers Drug Mart and third-party gift card processors such as Blackhawk Network. Even people who didn’t personally lose money seem to be adjusting their habits — opting out before becoming the next cautionary tale.
How the gift card scam works (in plain language)
There isn’t just one scam — there are several variations:
• Barcode tampering Scammers place fake barcode stickers over legitimate gift cards in stores. When the card is scanned at checkout, the money is loaded onto a different card controlled by the scammer — not the one you purchased.
• Pre-drained cards Some cards are compromised before purchase. By the time the recipient tries to use them, the balance is already gone.
• The accountability gap When fraud happens, consumers are often bounced between the retailer and the third-party processor. One says “call the issuer,” the other says “the funds were already redeemed.” The result? The customer absorbs the loss.
Why this matters — even if you didn’t buy one
I didn’t buy gift cards this year either. Even my Visa Rewards points, which can be redeemed for gift cards, were put straight back as a credit on my card instead. That choice wasn’t about paranoia — it was about control.
A credit applied to your account:
- Can’t be intercepted
- Can’t be drained remotely
- Has a clear paper trail
- Keeps responsibility with the bank, not a third-party processor
Gift cards, on the other hand, exist in a strange consumer-protection grey zone.
A system built on “buyer beware”
Gift cards are marketed as:
“Just like cash — but easier!”
In reality, they’re often worse than cash:
- No fraud guarantees
- No chargeback rights
- Limited refunds
- Complicated dispute processes
And yet, billions of dollars flow through this system every year — especially during the holidays.
A quiet consumer shift
What’s most telling isn’t just the scams themselves, but how people are responding:
- Families choosing cash, transfers, or experiences
- Shoppers hesitating at gift card racks
- Rewards points being redeemed as credits instead of cards
This isn’t panic. It’s adaptation.
If you do use gift cards
If gift cards are unavoidable:
- Inspect cards carefully for tampering
- Keep receipts and activation slips
- Use them immediately
- Consider digital gift cards from the issuer directly
And if something goes wrong, report it — not just to the retailer, but to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Silence is what allows these systems to continue unchanged.
Final thought
The most telling part of this story isn’t the scam — it’s that many people are quietly opting out.
Sometimes the safest gift is the simplest one.
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