To avoid buying or giving an empty card, only purchase gift cards from secure displays or from stores that load the card with its value at the checkout, advises Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs.com.

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As part of the deal, banks will also be able to securely load their customers' card account information into computer chips located in the handsets.

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Consumers who buy the deal will be required to enter their Big Y Express Savings Club membership number for the deal to load on their loyalty card.

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