HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Thieves stole more than $100-million dollars this year in the latest gift card scam. One Honolulu woman is out $500, and shocked because she's the only person who had access to the card. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news The scam is called "gift card draining". It's when thieves get gift card information before it's activated, so when money does get loaded onto it, they use it before the consumer. It happened to Chassis Spangler. "I had a return and that credit was put on a gift card for me to use, this is back in October," said Chassis Spangler, gift card drain victim. "Recently, I went to redeem the gift card online, went to look at my balance and was told that there was no balance." She was shocked because this card was behind the cashier and never accessible to the public like some displays you see in stores. "Gift cards are like cash," said Spangler. "People, people put that money on there to use. It's not, you know, just random funds, especially since this was a credit to be used for, for gifts as well. So it is, it is a violating to say the least." Homegrown at Pearlridge said gift cards are the perfect gift. They sell hundreds a week during the holidays. Hawaii child dies of flu, vaccination status unknown "A lot of people don't know what they wanna get or they have a lot of folks on their list that kinda have everything, so what do you get for the person who has everything? You let them choose themselves," said Leihulu Irvine, Homegrown general manager. If you found your gift card has been drained, the Better Business Bureau says to contact the store or the card issuer. The card issuer usually has their phone number on the back. They may be able to help you get your money back. "We try to do as much as possible to make sure the right product gets into the right hands and those that deserve," said Irvine. As for Spangler, she called the store's customer service line. They said there was nothing they could do, but said to try going into the store and show them she still has the gift card. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You "If their remedy is 'there's nothing we can do about it,' then trust goes out the window," said Spangler. "People aren't going to want to purchase those gift cards again. People aren't going to want to do business with them."