Design Inspiration Blog | Plastic Printers

Protect Your Business - Increase Security Measures

Written by Grace W | Aug 13, 2025 6:52:21 PM

In today’s fast-moving world, gift cards are everywhere, and for good reason. They’re flexible, easy to use, and a go-to choice for rewards, promos, and last-minute gifts. In fact, the National Retail Federation reports that in 2024, 53% of consumers listed gift cards as the most requested item on holiday wish lists, more than clothing, books, or beauty items.

But popularity also attracts the wrong kind of attention. Fraud, code guessing, and card cloning aren’t just technical issues, they’re real risks that can hit your bottom line and damage customer trust.

That’s why 8‑digit gift card codes are a smart, low-friction upgrade. A small tweak with a powerful payoff in security, usability, and trust. Let’s dive into why 8 digits matters.

 

1. Short codes are security threats

When it comes to fraud, shorter codes are easy targets. A 6-digit numeric code, for example, only has 1 million possible combinations. That might sound like a lot, but to a determined hacker, using automated tools, that’s not much of a challenge. Now consider an 8-digit code, with 100 million possible combinations. That’s a massive increase in complexity. With just two extra digits, you create a system that’s 100 times harder to crack.
This makes 8-digit codes far more resistant to:

  • Brute-force attacks
  • Card cloning
  • Unauthorized redemptions

More digits mean more protection, plain and simple.

2. Longer codes for more trusted gift cards

Gift card programs live by the data behind the scenes: when cards are issued, how they’re redeemed, and whether anything looks suspicious.

Using 8-digit codes gives you confidence in the reduced risk of:

  • Duplicate cards

  • Conflicting redemptions

  • Lost or misattributed value

It also gives your team a cleaner system to work with, making it easier to:

  • Track redemption patterns

  • Spot abnormal behavior

  • Run campaigns with confidence

3. Ready for Digital-First Business

Digital fraud isn’t slowing down. As gift cards become more integrated into apps, websites, and CRMs, your system needs to stay ahead. 8-digit codes are built for modern infrastructure.
They integrate more smoothly with:

  • Fraud detection systems
  • Secure redemption APIs
  • Digital wallets and mobile apps

This level of compatibility helps your business scale safely and confidently.

4. Prevention That Pays Off

When fraud hits, it costs more than just the balance on a card. It damages your brand’s reputation and erodes customer trust. By simply increasing the code length to 8 digits, you create a natural line of defense, one that’s invisible to the customer, but powerful behind the scenes.

In short, prevention is cheaper than repair, and 8-digit codes are a low-cost, high-impact upgrade.

Final Thoughts

Gift cards are more than just a sales tool, they're a reflection of your brand’s reliability. In a time where digital threats are growing more sophisticated, it’s essential to put smarter, streamlined security measures in place. 8-digit gift card codes offer a strong foundation that is secure, simple, and scalable. They may seem like a small change, but in today’s digital economy, small details make a big difference.