<prompt> Human: So a relative got me a 250 Home Depot Gift Card for Christmas. I went to the store, bought some tools I needed, went to the counter, swiped it, they told me the card was empty.I was like Okay, weird, maybe relative forgets to fill it up. I called them, they drove over the receipt. Shows they loaded up the gift card. Good on em for keeping it!.So I go back to the store. The company says the gift card might have been scammed, and that we cant get our money back. Merry Christmas, right?So I guess what Im curious is; A How did this happen, and B How are gift cards secured in general? Like when I buy one, often they just swipe it and punch in some money? Like Reloadable Tim Hortons cards and things...like, if they have no security, why are gift cards being used so widely?  <response>: If you have the receipt, you should follow the claims process in fraud claim. They will likely ask you to send in receipt and picture of the card, and a testament. It will take a few weeks, but it can be done. 