If you are still scrambling for that perfect gift to buy, chances are you’ve thought of these two words; Gift Cards.

Gift cards are frequently the most requested and easy to gift to buy for when you are at your holiday shopping wits end.

However, State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald says you need to make your sure your money and your gift are protected.

Fitzgerald recommends you buy from a trusted source;

Treat the gift card like cash;

Buy gift cards from a place you know the person you give it to will shop at;

Give the receipt to the person, along with the gift car, in case the card is lost or stolen.

Read the small print, especially when it comes to any expiration of the funds.