For the 13th straight year, gift cards were the No. 1 purchase during the holiday season, topping jewelry, clothing and electronics. If you've encountered an issue where you go to use the gift card you just received and it doesn't work or doesn't have the balance you expected, you aren't alone.

While gift cards are easy to purchase, sometimes there are some problems when it comes to using them, especially if they were purchased in-person. Scammers have found ways to buy cards, use them and put the back on the shelf where they're resold at retail value. The problem? Consumers get stuck with a card that has no money on it.

“It happens, especially if it’s an in-store purchase," Tom Bartholomy from the Charlotte Better Business Bureau said. "Some scammers get to them first, make purchases and still leave the card hanging there on the rack."

Here are a couple of hints as to what to do if this happens to you.

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