Why scammers love gift cards and what to watch out for ahead of Black Friday

(NEXSTAR) - Gifts cards may be the perfect present for that hard-to-shop-for loved one, but they are also a favorite tool for scammers, according to a Better Business Bureau investigation that found a 50% jump in scam reports over last year. "Today's scammers want gift cards as payment, leaving those unaware of this tactic vulnerable to schemes designed to commit fraud," the BBB writes. Experts warn that people should think of gift cards like they do cash, because the funds are so difficult to trace once the card falls into the wrong hands. Gift cards as payment Whether it's a…