Is GiftYa legit? Everything you need to know

Is GiftYa the real deal? For the most part, yes. It’s a real service backed by Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and payment processors like Dwolla. But just because it’s not a scam doesn’t mean it’s smooth sailing. Reviews are split between people who say it works fine and others who’ve dealt with delays, errors, or random cancellations.

Below, we’ll cover everything from how GiftYa works and what reviews say to its safety measures and data collection practices. We’ll also walk you through buying gift cards safely, and what to do if something goes wrong (or you get scammed while using the service).

What is GiftYa and is it legit?

GiftYa is a digital gifting platform that lets you send a “GiftYa” instead of a traditional gift card. Recipients can redeem it in a few ways: they can link it to their Visa/Mastercard/Amex, use a standard digital gift option, or get a Visa gift card through mail.

With the standard approach, the money is basically credited to your card and used when you pay at that specific restaurant, store, and so on. For a small fee, you can even swap the GiftYa for other merchants if you prefer. The company claims this new‑style gift works at more than 190,000 locations in the US, so you’re definitely not starved for options.

As for whether GiftYa is legit or not, the company works with trusted payment networks, so it’s definitely not sketchy. But while some users appreciate how fast they can send gifts, the service doesn’t always work as intended, which is why some people call it a scam.

What are GiftYa reviews saying about the service?

GiftYa is currently rated 3.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, based on 90 reviews. Some users appreciate the convenience and last-minute gift option, while others complain about unclear “processing fees”, missing deliveries, and unhelpful customer support.

Meanwhile, its mobile apps are rated 3.6 stars out of 5 on Google Play and 2.8 out of 5 stars on the App Store. The complaints are consistently about failed deliveries, sometimes after being told to wait 1-3 days by customer support. Not a great look when the whole appeal of the service is near-instant digital gifting.

Regardless of platform, many complaints focus on the extra hassle of using a middleman for what feels like a dressed-up Zelle payment.

Is GiftYa safe?

When it does work, GiftYa is a pretty secure platform. It’s PCI-DSS compliant and partners with Visa, Mastercard, and Amex, all of which have pretty strict security standards. Here’s a breakdown of how GiftYa keeps your information safe.

GiftYa security measures

Here’s what makes GiftYa safe to use:

• Secure, off-site data storage: First off, the company doesn’t keep your payment info on file. Instead, it secures your data with robust encryption and stores it at secure locations.
• Safe transactions: GiftYa processes payments through secure third-party services like Dwolla and Visa Direct to handle transfers safely.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Naturally, the service is equipped with MFA, offering an extra layer of security in case your account is compromised in any way. Say, a hacker obtains your login details through a phishing scam.
• Purchase verification: The company verifies every purchase before sending a gift to make sure both the sender and recipient are legitimate users. This extra step can sometimes delay delivery, but it’s meant to prevent fake accounts or unauthorized payments from going through.
• Fraud prevention: GiftYa also monitors for fraud and can freeze or cancel suspicious transactions. If they suspect a purchase or redemption was made illegally, they may share information with law enforcement.

Of course, their fraud prevention systems can be a little overzealous, as we’ve seen several reviews from users whose gifts were suddenly canceled with little explanation.

One reviewer on Trustpilot said GiftYa confirmed their iTunes card order, then canceled it right after and told them to wait up to seven days for a refund. Situations like that make people question whether GiftYa is truly legit.

GiftYa data collection policies

We’ve analyzed the GiftYa privacy policy and summarized what data they collect about you:

• Personal and contact info: Name, birth date, phone number, email, mailing address, and other identifying details.
• Financial info: Credit/debit card numbers, security codes, bank account info, and billing address.
• Device info: Your device model, operating system, browser, IP address, network info, and cookie data with unique identifiers.
• Location data: GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile network details to determine your current or past location (e.g., for geo-tagging in personalized photos).
• Contact list access: Names, emails, and phone numbers of contacts, if you choose to share them.
• Server logs: Info like search history, referral URLs, timestamps, and cookies tied to your account.
• Cookies and tracking: Data from cookies, beacons, and other tools to monitor usage and preferences.
• App usage: Details about how you interact with the app, including search queries and file metadata.
• Social media data: Info shared when you link your social media accounts, depending on your settings.
• Third-party data: Extra info gathered from partners, social platforms, or service providers to verify or supplement your profile.
• Employment-related info: Resume, job history, company info, and possibly SSN/tax ID if you apply for work or represent a business.
• Mobile carrier data: Info from your wireless provider to help verify your identity and prevent fraud.

This level of data collection is pretty standard for companies offering digital payment or gifting services. Platforms like Cash App, Venmo, or even Amazon gather similar types of personal, financial, and device data to function properly and prevent fraud.

Of course, there’s always the risk of GiftYa experiencing a data breach, as with any other platform. Cyber criminals may steal any of the data mentioned above and use it to gain access to your financial accounts or for identity theft.

How to buy gift cards from GiftYa safely

While GiftYa’s security is adequate, it’s still your responsibility to take care of your logins, see that your gift goes to the right person, and avoid suspicious links posing as GiftYa. Here’s how to ensure gift shopping goes smoothly:

• Confirm recipient details: Before sending anything, double-check the person’s email or phone number. Once a gift lands in the wrong inbox, getting it back can turn into a frustrating hassle.
• Avoid public networks: Don’t log into GiftYa or enter payment info on open networks. Free Wi-Fi makes it easy for hackers to snoop on your traffic. If you have no other option, get a VPN to use public Wi-Fi safely.
• Use stronger passwords: Pick long, unique passwords for your email and banking accounts. A password manager can help you generate and store your logins so you never forget them (or write them on a very non-secure sticky note).
• Enable 2FA: Add two-factor authentication to your accounts, preferably with an authenticator app. Even if someone guesses your password, they won’t be able to log in without the code sent to you.
• Be wary of suspicious links: Scammers may pose as GiftYa support reps or send emails claiming you need to “update your account info” to get you to reveal sensitive data. Bookmark the GiftYa page and use that to log in every time. If there’s really something wrong with your account, you’ll get a notification about it.

What to do if you get scammed on GiftYa

If your GiftYa doesn’t arrive, fails to deliver, or anything feels sketchy, here’s how to keep your money safe:

• Get in touch with customer support: While GiftYa’s customer support doesn’t have the most stellar reputation, it’s still worth writing or calling to try to resolve the issue before anything else.
• Contact your bank to reverse the payment: If the above didn’t work, or you’ve noticed unauthorized transactions on your card, alert your bank or credit card company as soon as possible.
• Report scammers: Aside from reporting the scam links or emails to GiftYa, your email provider, and authorities (the FBI’s IC3 division and the FTC), here’s what to do if you clicked on a phishing link.
• Keep an eye on your transaction history: After reversing any bogus charges and reporting the scam, you may want to change your password and monitor your account until you’re sure the coast is clear.

Is GiftYa legit? FAQs

Further reading:

• Steam gift card scams and how to avoid them
• Black Friday scams and how to stay safe
• Which VPNs accept payment by gift card?