Walgreens had to take a big loss several years ago.
Gift card balances all over the US were being stolen in California. You went to use your card and found the balance wiped out.
The gift card was in your hand but the balance gone.
I still wonder about it being an inside job.
I dont know how they did it. It might even still be happening. After that incident, I keep a close track on gift card balances.
one method used in that senario is theives getting the gift card numbers from thr cards displayed on a open rack, typically a supermarket or similar store that sells gift cards to various chain stores and restaurants in pre determined values. The keep checking the numbers of cards they know exist until someone buys one, then they presumibly use it online.