I don’t know why you think it’s a good idea to buy gift card without OTP (one-time password). But whatever the reason may not be my business, is it? Happy to help, with the impression that you are looking at convenience without the need to always enter your OTP. It could also be that you lost your phone number where you would normally receive the password.
OTP bypass for gift cards really depends on the online store you’re purchasing from. If the store runs on a 2D gateway,¹ you are more likely to shop gift cards without being asked OTP. Sometimes, the bank may intervene or even the credit card issuer if they are suspicious of the transaction.
How to buy gift card without OTP
Traditionally, websites do not provide any specific button that says “buy without OTP”, so there’s no official way to go about this as long as security is concerned. That said, follow the steps below to buy gift card without OTP:
1. Pick a gift card merchant
First, decide where to buy your gift card. There are many sites online, including major retail stores such as Amazon, Walmart, and Target, or online platforms like eGifter, Giftcards.com, etc., that sell gift cards.
Also available are suspicious websites built for phishing. These types of sites will promise you convenient gift card purchases with no OTP required. But they will copy your credit card information, which ends up on the dark web—how interesting. So, your best bet is to use trusted merchants, but even these are not 100% way to get around OTP verification for gift card.
2. Select the type of gift card to buy
Depending on where you’re purchasing, you’ll have options ranging from restaurants, retail stores, online platforms, gaming, and so much more. Pick the one that best suits your purpose.
You’d also have to set the amount you want on the gift card, which can range anywhere from $10 to $500. You may also have the option to customize your gift card amount.
Now, for a chance to buy gift card without OTP, you want to enter a small gift card amount. Higher amounts are more likely to activate 3D gateway requirements for OTP.
3. Add to cart and checkout
Once you’ve chosen your gift card, add it to your shopping cart. Your next step is to proceed to checkout. Depending on the gift card site, you might be required to sign in or create an account on the platform—most sites require sign-in anyway.
4. Fill in recipient details
Some platforms might require you to fill in details about the recipient of the gift card. This could be an email address if it’s an e-gift card. If you are buying the gift card online to be delivered to your home or someone else, you have to enter the shipping address. Of course, the shipping address must be the same as the card you use for the payment.
5. Enter the card details
Provide the card details, including card number, expiration date, and CVV. You may also be asked to enter the name on the card. This is where the OTP usually comes into play.
Unfortunately, there is no way to know whether the transaction will require OTP or not. Just tap the payment button and wait. If OTP is required, you will get a screen prompt asking you to enter the temporary PIN. If this is not the case, the payment will go through ASAP.
When a gift card site won’t request OTP
Now, since your goal is to buy gift card without OTP, it may or may not be possible. Nevertheless, below are possible occasions where the online site will not require OTP:
a. Low gift card amount
Some banks will not require an OTP for low-value transactions. This limit varies depending on the bank and your country. So, consider lowering your gift card amount—that might work for you.
b. Trusted gift card site
The bank has a list of trusted merchants, so they may not require OTP, especially if the card has initially been used to shop on the website.
c. The card is still on file
If the card was saved on the online platform already, you will be able to make future transactions without OTP. Google Pay is a good example of a payment gateway that securely stores card details and won’t require OTP, as long as you can verify the purchase with your biodata such as fingerprint or with a PIN.
d. Recurring transaction
Is there a recurring transaction on the gift card site already in place? If yes, then you can buy gift card without OTP verification. Usually, though, this method is available for recurring services and might not be applicable for one-time purchases such as gift cards.
e. 2D payment gateway
If a particular gift card seller uses a 2D payment gateway, no OTP may be required for some inventories. Gift card could be part of the inventory but that’s up to the website to determine. Sites that offer payment through trusted payment gateways such as PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay might not require an OTP depending on the settings. But not many sites like to support 2D payment to cases of chargebacks from customers who report unauthorized purchases to their bank or card issuer.²
f. Local vs international websites
If you buy a gift card from an international website, they likely turned off OTP requests for international purchases. There have been several reported cases of international shoppers being able to buy without supplying their OTP. This could have been due to their bank, card issuer, or even the site’s policy.
Where to buy gift card without OTP
Looking to snag a gift card without dealing with that pesky OTP? I got you. Below are the top sites for this:
Walmart
The card is all you need to shop a wide array of brands like Starbucks, Applebee’s, and Netflix. Again, pick your preference between physical and digital gift cards. They even let you reload them. Plus, free shipping on the real deal and instant delivery for e-gift cards.
Amazon
They’ve got gift cards galore, no OTP needed, thanks to options like Google Pay. So whether you’re throwing a birthday bash, attending a wedding, or just celebrating Tuesday, Amazon’s got a card for you.
And, no worries, you can choose between a physical card or an e-card, and even customize it with a cute message or a selfie. Bonus: Amazon offers free shipping on physical gift cards and instant gratification with their digital ones.
GiftCards.com
GiftCards.com is another hot spot. They’ve got a huge selection of cards from big names like Target, Home Depot, and Nike. Again, pick physical or digital and jazz it up with a personal touch or photo. And, you betcha, free shipping for physical cards and instant delivery for digital ones.
eGifter
If you want a specialist, head over to eGifter. They do one thing, and they do it well—selling gift cards online. Amazon, Best Buy, Sephora? They’ve got you covered. Plus, they have a rewards program where you can rack up points with each purchase.
TunesBud
Into music? Check out TunesBud.com. They’re all about iTunes gift cards and no OTP. They use PayPal for transactions and support a ton of international credit cards.
Giftcardcabin.com
I have to mention Giftcardcabin.com here too. They promise an OTP-free shopping experience, but I can’t vouch for them personally. Proceed with caution, maybe test them out with a small purchase first. They use PayPal and accept VISA, Mastercard, and AMEX.
Gamecarddelivery
Game lovers, you’re not left out. Gamecarddelivery.com has got your back with gift cards from iTunes, Google Play, Steam, etc., all without needing an OTP. And yes, they accept PayPal, Mastercard, VISA, and other cards.
And if you’re feeling adventurous, here are some more sites to check out: Dundle.com, Gift Card Granny, Raise, Giftcardcabin.com, Dundie.com, Carddelivery.com, and Mygiftcardsupply.com.
Why we have OTP in the first place
OTP is a feature of the 3D Secure payment gateway.³ It is designed to request card authentication to prevent activities like carding. Carding is a term used in the world of cybercrime to describe the process whereby someone uses stolen credit card information to buy goods (such as gift cards) or services with the intent to resell them. When this technique is used specifically to purchase gift cards, it’s known as gift card carding.
How it works
The person obtains credit card information through various illegal means such as hacking, phishing, buying information from the dark web, or even through physical credit card skimmers. They then use the information to purchase electronic gift cards online. The reason is that gift cards are relatively easier to transfer and hard to trace.
They can also quickly convert gift card into goods or even sell them for cash, which further disassociates the end product from the original stolen credit card.
The final step is to resell or redeem the gift cards on secondary markets or redeem them to buy stuff online.
That’s why security measures such as OTP, CVV (Card Verification Value), and 3D Secure have been implemented to protect credit and debit cards from unauthorized transactions.
Read also: online stores you can shop with routing number
Conclusion
While it’s possible to buy gift card without OTP, it is not always certain that a particular site or your bank will allow it. Just try to complete the checkout process. If no OTP is required, the payment will go through instantly. But if it is, you will be prompted to enter the temporary PIN sent to the phone number or email address associated with the card. You could always try different sites to find what works.