A discount too good to be true: Bogus gift cards sold online

NEW YORK (WITI) — It sounds like a great deal — a discounted gift card to a major retail store. But, some of these offers come with an age old warning: buyer beware!

Many big retailers like Best Buy, Home Depot and Lowe's  offer a large number of product choices, which is why many people opt to give and receive gift cards.

Now, there are new websites offering gift cards to those stores at a fraction of the cost.

"The gift card would be worth $50, but you could buy it for say $40," explained U.S. Postal Inspector Eleanor Berry.

But, not all these offers are legit. In fact, one website asked for payment via the mail and never sent cards out.

"I know there are some major retailers who do sell discounted gift cards, but you're actually going to a reputable store and purchasing them, which gives you more security than buying it online," Berry said.

100 victims lost $155,000 through one bogus site, which has now been taken down.

Before you buy discounted gift cards online — do your research.

"There were a lot of complaints that if someone had done an internet search they would have realized that there were a lot of particular complaints about this company," Berry said.

Two men were arrested in connection to this case.