Before you buy a Home Depot gift card this year, there are certain things you need to know.

No one loves Home Depot gift cards more than scammers because, according to recent US data, $250 million was lost to gift card scams in the past year. If you're trying to avoid fake cards online, do not purchase, sell, or check your balance on online gift card marketplaces outside of Home Depot’s official website. Websites or ads offering gift cards are often scams, too. The best way to avoid Home Depot gift card scams is to buy digital gift cards from verified sellers.

You might be wondering how you can tell if a gift card will work and, more importantly, how you can protect yourself from scammers. So, here’s a detailed guide on how to spot and avoid fake gift card.

How Do I Know If a Home Depot Gift Card Is Scammed? 

Gift card scams are becoming the most preferred way for scammers to earn cash. They can remain anonymous and easily drain gift cards. And they're impossible to recover once someone has been scammed.

It's not easy to spot Home Depot gift card scams, but here are some red flags to help you out:

1. Scammers usually make an urgent request. They pressure you to act quickly, claiming a serious urgency, like you need to pay a fine or any fee within 24 hours. They might claim someone is in danger, and the only thing they need to save them is a Home Depot gift card.

2. Another red flag of a scam is that someone might demand that you pay via gift cards. They might act as an IRS agent, a police officer, or somebody from a utility company or tech support. They might ask you to read the numbers and PINs over the phone or ask you to text them. Once they have the info, they can drain the balance. The funds are impossible to track or recover once drained.

3. Check your gift card balance before using it. If the balance is $0 or lower than you thought after you've just purchased it, then the gift card may have been drained by a scammer.

4. When purchasing a Home Depot gift card from a retail store, check if it has been physically tampered with. Scammers often scratch and record the card number and PIN, then reseal the packaging and wait for someone to activate the card. Once activated, you'll be scammed. Double-check for unusual stickers or tape on the packaging or cards that look re-glued or poorly reassembled.

5. Do not purchase your gift card from an auction site, social media marketplace, or third-party seller. There's a high chance that gift cards purchased from unofficial sites are scams.

6. When a gift card is scammed, you're unable to redeem it at checkout even though it shows you have a balance available. This could mean that your gift card might have been previously used in a scam. This Home Depot gift card fraud was experienced by a couple in Moore, Oklahoma, who received a $200 Home Depot gift card as a wedding gift. When they tried to use it a month later, they found out that the balance was wiped out.

7. Home Depot gift cards don't typically expire, but a card involved in fraud may be deactivated by the company.

How to Avoid Home Depot Gift Card Scams

Avoid gift card scams with these easy Home Depot gift card security tips:

1. Buy Gift Cards From Trusted Sources

Home Depot gift cards can be purchased directly from Home Depot. You can get them from their in-store or via their official website. Some major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, or Costco also sell these gift cards. 

Avoid buying from places like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or unknown third-party websites. Cards purchased from these sites might be tampered with, fake, or already drained. 

2. Carefully Check Physical Gift Cards

Before you buy a Home Depot gift card in a store, check that the PIN on the back hasn't been scratched off or tampered with. Inspect the card for repackaging, regluing, and resealing. Make sure the card serial number on the packaging matches the one on your receipt. If you find anything suspicious, ask the cashier for a different card or report it to store management.

3. Check Balance Using Official Channels

Check the balance using Home Depot's official gift card balance checker on their website. Do not check your balance on third-party websites or balance-checker apps found through search engines. 

4. Use Gift Cards Instantly

Use your gift card instantly. This gives scammers less time to gain access to it or drain it. Check the balance regularly if you're holding the card long-term. 

5. Do Not Share Details

Legitimate companies or government agencies do not ask you to pay using a Home Depot gift card or any other gift card. If someone is asking for payment via a gift card, it's a 100% scam.

6. Never Act Under Pressure

Scammers use urgency, fear, and manipulation to pressure you into making decisions. You need to slow down, first verify the source, and never act under pressure. Using pressure is a classic scam tactic.

7. Keep Your Proof of Purchase

Your receipt is the only way to prove ownership of the gift card and transaction history. Keep a copy of your purchase receipt and the activation code. Save the email or take a screenshot of the order.

8. Monitor for Suspicious Activity

Check the card's activity history and report any unauthorized transactions as soon as possible. If you suspect your gift card might have been compromised, then reporting early can reduce the chance of a scam.

Conclusion

When in doubt, do not use the Home Depot gift card. They've become a popular target for scammers. Recognizing these mistakes to avoid when buying digital gift cards can safeguard your funds and help protect others from a serious gift card scam. This knowledge is useful to share with family and friends, who use gift cards during holidays and special occasions.