As the technology involved in the gift card business becomes more common, and well known in the consumer based retail industry, thefts of gift card balances have also become more prevalent. Gift card thieves use simple technology of scanning the unique gift card numbers, or writing them down on a piece of paper in a retail outlet and using the customer service line to discover when cards have been purchased and charged, at which time the thief uses the numbers to make purchases for themselves. It is important whether you have received a gift card, or are buying them for others, that you prevent yourself from falling victim to these types of scams. Here is a website where you can learn more about how to avoid scams.