Gift cards are a great holiday present for the toughest critic on your shopping list, but be careful when buying gift cards. With gift card sales estimated $18.48 billion last year it is not surprising that there are gift card scams. Learn how to be a savvy shopper with these tips:

Don't buy gift cards from online auction sites.
Since this is a large source of gift card fraud, these cheap gift cards may be worthless. Sure, some of these cards are real, but many are stolen, counterfeit or used. It's not worth the risk

Carefully examine both the front and back of a gift card before you buy it. If you can see a PIN number, put the card back and get a different one. If a gift card looks like it could have been tampered with, don't buy it.

Ask the store cashier to scan the gift card in front of you. This will guarantee that your card is valid when you buy it and that it accurately reflects the balance. This will also protect you from crooks who exchange worthless cards that could be resold to you.

Always keep your receipt as a proof of purchase as long as there is money stored on the gift card. Since many retailers can track where the gift card was purchased, activated and used, if the card is stolen, some retailers will replace the card for you if you have your receipt.

Finally, never give your Social Security number, date of birth or any other unneeded private information when you purchase a gift card. No reputable company will ask for this info.