Gift card and package delivery scams ramp up this holiday season: The signs to watch for

ORLANDO, Fla. - 'Tis the season for scammers.

Among the hustle and bustle in the days leading up to Christmas, experts say savvy criminals are coming for your money.

"I’d like to just reach through my phone and grab somebody," said Bernhard Howell, who winters in Marion County.

Howell is frustrated by the inundation of emails, Facebook messages, texts and phone calls he has received as scammers work overtime this holiday season.

"People work hard for their money," he said. "And the way the economy is right now, it really sucks. And you’ve got to keep your money where it is because if not, you’re going to lose it."

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning of two popular scams in the days ahead of Christmas, including gift card "draining" and package delivery scams.

Gift card draining

In this scam, experts say scammers either scan gift card barcodes to clone them after they are purchased and loaded, or put their own barcode over top of the original one.

"A fake barcode could actually lead to you loading the gift card of a scammer," explained Holly Salmons, President & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Central Florida. "So you’re walking out with what you think is a great gift, but really you could be giving a loved one an empty card and filling the pockets of a bad guy."

Salmons recommends checking the gift card to make sure it has not been manipulated. (You can find other tips and things to look for here.)

Package delivery scams

In this scam, potential victims receive unsolicited messages that may ask for confirmation or payment in order to authorize delivery of a package. 

These are common scams throughout the year but often increase in frequency – and how believable they are – this time of year.

"More of us really are expecting packages in the mail," Salmons said. "So we may be more tempted to click on the link or respond to the text or provide the information that the scammers are asking for."

It is similar to what scammers tried to get Bernhard Howell to fall for, asking him for $120 for an "authorization fee." Thankfully, he knew better.

"It’s not worth my time or money," he said. "It’s a real nasty scam, it really is. They’ll harass you and harass you and harass you until they get even one nickel or keep harassing you."

That is why experts say do not click those links – they could be phishing attacks to steal your personal information – and do not give out your personal information in messages or over the phone to strangers. 

If you doubt whether an unsolicited call or message is legitimate, the BBB recommends you contact the company using the official customer service number found on their website. 

Shoppers can also track deliveries on the official website of the delivery carrier or often from the website of the retailer from which the item was purchased. (You can read more about delivery scams here.)

Learn more about avoiding other popular scams this time of year by watching "Unwrap safety: Outsmart the 12 Scams of Christmas" on FOX 35 News+