The internet has become a world of its own offering more opportunities for financial freedom than before. But there is also a bad side to it – fraudulent activities have increased.
Gift card scams are increasing with the growing use of the cards for different purposes. Knowing how to spot authentic gift card designs isn’t just helpful – it’s essential.
Just a few months back, while trading cryptocurrencies, a vendor offered to sell me a steam gift card because I wanted to play a game on steam to be eligible for an airdrop.
The vendor sent a supposed visa steam gift card and I made payment. I realized I had been scammed when the gift card code kept bringing up the ‘error message.’ On asking questions, I realized I had fallen into the hands of scammers and had bought a fake visa steam gift card.
So whether you are buying, selling or receiving a Visa Gift Card, this guide will help you identify real cards and avoid potential scams.
What Is A Visa Gift Card?
A Visa gift card is a preloaded card issued by visa Inc. It can be used at any store or online platform that accepts Visa payments to make purchases.Visa gift cards can be used in any store that accepts the card, it is not tied to a specific brand.
Types Of Visa Gift Cards
There are three main types of Visa gift cards, and we will discuss how you can easily identify them with their pictures in this article.
1. Standard Visa Gift Card
A standard Visa gift card is a physical Visa gift card preloaded with a certain amount of money used to make online and offline transactions.
The standard Visa card expires within seven years of your purchase. Remember that this differs from Visa credit/debit cards, even though the same company also issues these.
Banks issue Visa debit/credit cards through Visa Inc, and you can link the cards to your bank account. But this contrasts with the Visa gift card, which has no connection to the bank account.
Standard Visa gift cards normally start with these numbers; 4020, 4358, 4786, 5338, 4097, 5338, 4852.
The card comes with 16-digit card numbers. These card numbers start with any above 4-digit numbers, including a security code.
The pictures below are examples of a standard Visa gift card;
2. Custom Visa Gift Card
Just like the name suggests, this type of Visa gift card is a customized type of Visa voucher.
Visa allows people to customize gift cards using any design and inscription. This is a creative way to tailor your gift voucher to a loved one. You can add a personal photo, message, or art to the gift card.
You can also choose the amount of money you want to load onto the card.
If you want to customize a Visa gift card for a loved one, it’s quite easy to do online.
The pictures below show examples of Custom Visa gift cards;
3. Visa e-gift card
This is a virtual form of a Visa gift card that you can use digitally. The card number and code are the important features of this card. They are mainly used for online transactions and have the same value as the two other types of Visa cards mentioned above.
A $100 Visa e-gift card and a $100 standard Visa gift card have the same value. They are just in different forms.
You can easily buy Visa e-gift cards and receive them immediately via email. These pictures are examples of Visa e-gift cards;
Comparison between Visa e-Gift Cards and Physical Visa Gift Cards
| Features | Visa e-Gift Card | Standard Visa Gift Card |
| Security | Harder to steal | Risk of Theft |
| Usage Limitations | Online stores only | Online and offline stores |
| Activations | Activated instantly via email | Requires Manual activation |
| Transferability | Can be forwarded via mail | Must be physically handed over |
Although Visa e-gift cards offer more security, it has limited utility compared to standard cards. If you want a card that you can use for both online and offline purchases, a standard Visa gift card is the better choice.
4. Seasonal Visa Gift Card Designs
These are visa gift cards that are made for specific events. These designs in the card makes it more appealing and relatable to the event at hand. Some of the seasonal visa gift cards include:
- Christmas & New Year Gift card
- Valentine’s Day Gift Card
- Easter Gift
- Halloween Gift Card
- Thanksgiving Gift Card
- Birthdays & Anniversaries Gift Card
- Graduations & Celebrations Gift Cards
How to Create a Custom Seasonal Visa Gift Card
Creating a seasonal gift card is not hard – it’s easy and many providers offer such services.
Step 1: Choose a Provider
- You can choose between Visa.com, GiftCards.com, Vanilla.com and some major banks or any other provider that you may know.
Step 2: Select a Theme
- Choose the design you want to appear on the visa card.
Step 3: Add Personalization
- Add a name, message or any other personalized content
Step 4: Choose the Amount & Delivery Method
- Select the amount you want to be in the card (it’s usually between $25 and $500 for standard visa gift cards).
- Choose your delivery method whether physical or email.
Step 5: Complete Purchase & Activate
- Confirm and checkout and also ensure the card is activated.
How To Identify Visa Gift Cards
1. Look For The Visa Logo
The first thing to do when you stumble on the gift card is to look for the Visa design logo. Every Visa voucher, including the virtual ones, has the Visa logo. That’s the trademark of the company that shows Visa issued the card.
2. Check The Card’s Expiration Date
Visa gift cards have an expiry date. Therefore, you need to check when the card will expire.
3. Verify the Card’s Activation Status
You can check the activation status of the Visa gift voucher to confirm if the card is active. You can do this by contacting customer service through the numbers enlisted on the back of the card.
If you have not activated your Visa gift card, you can contact the customer agents to help you with the process and requirements for activating the card.
4. Look For a Card Number and Security Code
Every Visa gift voucher has a 16 digits card number on them and a three-digit security code at the rear of the card. Look out for these in every Visa gift voucher; it is not a Visa card if they are absent.
5. Check If the Card Has a signature Line
The Visa gift card should have a signature line or bar at the back. A signature is one of the properties of a Visa gift card you should always look out for.
Where To Buy And Sell Visa Gift Cards – Prestmit
Prestmit is the best place to buy and sell Visa cards, as the platform had processed tens of millions of gift card transactions. There are many features that make Prestmit stands out as one of the best gift card trading platforms. These include:
- Fast transactions: you can buy and sell your gift card within minutes.
- Multiple payments options: choose your preferred payment method on the platform.
- Best rates: you can be sure to get excellent rates when trading on Prestmit.
- Advanced security: your funds and transactions are protected with various security measures employed on the platform.
Download the Prestmit app on the Google Play Store or Apple Store to start buying and selling your Visa gift card and any other cards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Visa Card Pictures
How Does A Visa Gift Card Look Like?
Similar to some features peculiar to gift cards, there are features to look for in the picture of Visa gift cards. You must first look out for the Visa logo with the inscription of “Visa” on the card. Also, an expiration date and signature line make the card original.
Therefore, you must be wary of a Visa card lacking these features, as it may be fake.
How Do I Convert A Visa Card To Cash?
There is a range of importance of having a Visa card. You can use your Visa card at the ATM to withdraw cash because it is one of the top prepaid cards with ATM access. Also, you can decide to sell your Visa card for cash. For instance, you can sell your Visa gift card for cash at Prestmit. We offer the best gift card rates you can not find elsewhere on our platform.
How do I activate my Visa gift card?
They are pre-activated at the time of purchase, but some may require manual activation via phone or online at the provider’s website.
Conclusion
Visa gift coupons are one of the best types of gift cards you can think of buying if you have not decided yet. The good thing about Visa cards is that you have many options where you can redeem them.
You can use your Visa gift vouchers at stores that accept Visa card payments.
As shown in this article, there are three main types of Visa gift cards, and they all have distinctive features.
You can easily identify any Visa gift card from the explanations and pictures attached to them.
