Victoria‘s Secret is the world‘s most popular lingerie and beauty retailer, with millions of fans always on the hunt for deals and discounts. One of the most sought-after offers? Free Victoria‘s Secret gift cards. While you should be cautious of sketchy "free gift card" offers online, there are legitimate ways to earn free Victoria‘s Secret gift cards through rewards apps, online surveys, and smart shopping strategies.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover:
- The lowdown on Victoria‘s Secret gift cards
- Legit ways to get free Victoria‘s Secret gift cards
- How to spot and avoid gift card scams
- Expert tips for maximizing gift card earnings
- Detailed tutorials for redeeming gift cards online and in-store
But first, let‘s look at some eye-opening statistics about the gift card industry and Victoria‘s Secret in particular.
Gift Card Industry Statistics
- Gift cards are the most popular holiday wish list item, requested by 59% of consumers. (National Retail Federation)
- In 2022, gift card spending reached over $28 billion in the U.S. alone. (Investopedia)
- Digital gift card sales grew 26% year-over-year in 2022, driven by convenience and instant delivery. (NBC News)
- 47% of U.S. adults have unused gift cards sitting around with an average value of $175 per person. (Bankrate)
Victoria‘s Secret Gift Card Statistics
- Victoria‘s Secret is the #1 specialty retailer of lingerie, commanding 24% market share in the U.S. (IBIS World)
- Over 250 million Victoria‘s Secret gift cards have been sold since the program launched in 2004. (Crunchbase)
- Victoria‘s Secret gift cards are the 4th most popular gift card brand, behind only Amazon, Walmart, and Target. (Gift Card Granny)
- 65% of Victoria‘s Secret gift card holders spend 38% more than the value of their gift cards. (Investor‘s Business Daily)
Clearly, gift cards are big business – and Victoria‘s Secret is a major player. So how can you get your hands on free Victoria‘s Secret gift cards? Let‘s explore some legitimate options.
Legit Ways to Earn Free Victoria‘s Secret Gift Cards
While you should be extremely wary of websites and social media posts offering "free gift card codes," there are reputable ways to earn gift cards online. The key is signing up for rewards programs and apps that allow you to accumulate points for gift cards. It takes some time and effort, but it‘s possible to earn hundreds of dollars in gift cards per year.
Here are some of the best legitimate options:
1. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the most popular rewards and loyalty-program sites, having paid out over $750 million to its members. You can earn points (called SB) for all kinds of online activities:
- Taking surveys
- Watching video ads
- Using their search engine
- Playing games
- Shopping online
The SB points you accumulate can be redeemed for free gift cards to retailers like Victoria‘s Secret. Most members can easily earn a $25 gift card each month.
Signup Bonus: Get a $10 bonus when you sign up and earn 300 SB within 30 days.
2. MyPoints
MyPoints is another popular rewards site that‘s been around for over 20 years. They offer a few different ways to earn points redeemable for gift cards:
- Shopping online (earn up to 40% back at 2,000 top retailers)
- Taking surveys
- Watching videos
- Reading emails
- Playing games
- Referring friends
When it comes to online shopping, MyPoints partners with nearly every major retailer and service, including travel sites, subscription boxes, and food delivery. Earn enough points and you can score free Victoria‘s Secret gift cards, starting at just $10.
Signup Bonus: Get a $10 Amazon gift card when you make a $10 purchase through MyPoints in the first 30 days.
3. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is one of the top paid survey sites, with over 20 million members. You can earn virtual points by sharing your opinions on products and services via online surveys and focus groups.
The amount you can earn per survey ranges from around $.50 to $3, with the occasional high-paying survey up to $75. Most surveys take 5-20 minutes, so you can easily complete a few during commercial breaks or while waiting in line. Once you reach 500 points, you can cash out for a free e-gift card to retailers like Victoria‘s Secret.
4. Rakuten
Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) is one of the most popular cashback sites, partnering with over 3,500 retailers.
Here‘s how it works: Start your online shopping trip through the Rakuten app or website links. Activate the cashback offer at the retailer. Complete your purchase as normal, and Rakuten will credit a percentage back to your account – anywhere from 1% to 15%+.
Every quarter, you‘ll receive a "Big Fat Check" with your cashback amount, which can be paid via check, PayPal, or free gift card. If you do a lot of online shopping, those earnings can quickly add up to a free $100 Victoria‘s Secret gift card or more!
Signup Bonus: Rakuten offers a generous $30 bonus when you sign up and make at least $30 worth of qualifying purchases within 90 days.
5. Ibotta
Ibotta is a popular cashback app for earning money on in-store and online purchases, especially groceries, household items, and personal care products.
To use Ibotta, download the app and browse the available cashback offers before your shopping trip. When you buy a featured item, snap a photo of your receipt to verify the purchase and earn cashback. For online purchases, start your shopping through the Ibotta app links to automatically earn cashback.
Once your account balance reaches $20, you can cash out via PayPal, check, or free gift card to popular retailers like Victoria‘s Secret. Some Ibotta users easily earn $20-100 per month just for buying the brands they love.
Signup Bonus: Get a $20 Welcome Bonus when you redeem your first offer within 14 days.
Of course, these are just a few of the legitimate platforms for earning free gift cards. There are dozens of other reputable survey sites and shopping apps to check out. The key is choosing a few programs you enjoy using and accumulating rewards points when you have spare time.
How to Spot (And Avoid) Victoria‘s Secret Gift Card Scams
Now that we‘ve covered the legitimate ways to earn free Victoria‘s Secret gift cards, let‘s talk about the scams you need to avoid. With gift cards being such a hot commodity, scammers are always coming up with new tricks and schemes. If you‘re not careful, you could end up wasting time, losing money, or putting your personal information at risk.
Here are some of the most common gift card scams to watch out for:
"Free Gift Card Code" Generators
You‘ve probably seen these "free gift card" websites that claim you can generate unlimited gift card codes with the click of a button. They often ask you to complete surveys or download apps to unlock the codes.
Fact: There‘s no such thing as a "gift card code generator" for Victoria‘s Secret (or any other retailer). These sites are phishing scams designed to steal your personal info or trick you into paying for the codes.
Victoria‘s Secret gift card codes are generated internally by the company and activated upon purchase. There‘s no "hack" or special algorithm that can produce valid codes. Don‘t waste your time.
Spend enough time on Instagram or Facebook and you‘ll likely come across posts claiming "We‘re giving away 100 free Victoria‘s Secret gift cards! Like this post, tag three friends, and comment ‘Done‘ for a chance to win!"
Fact: 99.9% of social media gift card giveaways are fake. The scammers use these "like-farming" posts to quickly amass followers and reach. At best, the promised gift cards are never delivered; at worst, you‘re opening yourself up to identity theft.
As a general rule, if a social media account is offering free gift cards in exchange for engagement, it‘s a red flag. Legitimate brands typically host giveaways via an official entry form with clear terms and conditions.
Unsolicited Emails and Texts Promising Free Gift Cards
Receive a random email or text message claiming you won a Victoria‘s Secret gift card? Don‘t celebrate just yet – it‘s most likely a phishing scam.
These messages aim to get you to click a malicious link, download malware, or provide sensitive info like your credit card number to claim the "prize." In reality, there is no gift card – the scammer‘s goal is to steal your identity or install ransomware on your device.
Bottom line: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Never give out your personal information or payment details in response to an unsolicited message. And don‘t click links or download attachments from unknown senders.
Tips for Maximizing Your Victoria‘s Secret Gift Card Earnings
Earning enough rewards points for free Victoria‘s Secret gift cards takes some time and strategy. But with the right approach, you can fast-track your earnings. Here are some expert tips:
Create a dedicated email address for signups. This keeps your main inbox from getting cluttered with survey invitations and promotional messages.
Set a goal and schedule time for surveys/shopping. Aim to earn a certain number of rewards points per week and block out time in your calendar to focus on it.
Take advantage of signup bonuses. Many survey sites and shopping apps offer bonus points or cashback when you first create an account. These can give your earnings a nice head start.
Use rewards credit cards for online purchases. If you‘re shopping through a cashback app like Rakuten, maximize your earnings by using a rewards credit card. You‘ll "double dip" on points/miles plus the app cashback.
Look for bonus point opportunities. Some apps offer bonus cashback at certain retailers on a rotating basis. Plan your shopping around those deals to boost your earnings rate.
Cash out for gift cards instead of PayPal. Some rewards programs give you more value per point when redeeming for gift cards vs. straight cash. Do the math to get the most bang for your buck.
Refer friends to your favorite apps. Many apps offer referral bonuses when someone signs up using your unique link. Share your links with friends and family to get free points and gift cards for spreading the word.
How to Redeem a Victoria‘s Secret Gift Card Code Online
So, you‘ve racked up some rewards points and have enough for a Victoria‘s Secret gift card – congrats! Luckily, the redemption process is pretty simple. Here‘s how to apply a Victoria‘s Secret gift card code to your online order:
- Visit VictoriasSecret.com and add items to your cart as usual.
- Click the bag icon in the top right corner to view your cart when you‘re ready to check out.
- On the shopping cart page, find the "Gift Cards" section and click "Apply Gift Cards & Offer Codes."
- Enter your gift card number in the field and click "Apply."
- You‘ll see the gift card amount deducted from your order total. If the balance doesn‘t cover the full amount, you can select a second payment method for the remaining amount.
- Click "Place Order" to complete the checkout.
Note: You can apply up to 10 Victoria‘s Secret gift cards per online order. Just enter them one at a time. To check your gift card balance at any time, visit the Victoria‘s Secret Gift Card Balance page.
If you have a physical Victoria‘s Secret gift card, you can use it for in-store purchases by presenting it at checkout. There‘s no PIN required – just swipe the card like any other credit or debit card. Some stores can also scan a gift card code from your phone if you received an e-gift card.
Victoria‘s Secret Gift Card Policies and FAQs
To wrap things up, let‘s address some frequently asked questions about Victoria‘s Secret gift cards:
Can Victoria‘s Secret gift cards be used at other stores?
No. Victoria‘s Secret gift cards can only be redeemed for merchandise at Victoria‘s Secret and PINK stores, or online at VictoriasSecret.com and PINK.com. They aren‘t transferable or redeemable for cash.
Do Victoria‘s Secret gift cards expire?
Nope! Victoria‘s Secret gift cards never expire and don‘t charge any fees. You can hold onto the card balance for as long as you‘d like.
Can I resell or exchange a Victoria‘s Secret gift card?
Officially, no. According to Victoria‘s Secret‘s gift card terms, the cards can‘t be resold and aren‘t redeemable for cash (except where required by law). However, there‘s a large secondary market for unused gift cards on sites like Raise and Gift Card Granny. Just note that you likely won‘t get 100% of the value – most cards resell for 75-95% of face value.
How do I check my Victoria‘s Secret gift card balance?
You can check the balance on your Victoria‘s Secret gift card anytime by:
- Visiting the Gift Card Balance page and entering the card number and PIN
- Calling 1-800-411-5116 and following the prompts
- Asking a store associate to check the balance at checkout
What happens if I return an item purchased with a gift card?
If you return an item purchased with a Victoria‘s Secret gift card, any refund amount will be credited back to a gift card. You‘ll then have that gift card amount to use on a future purchase.
Can I reload a Victoria‘s Secret gift card?
Currently, no. Victoria‘s Secret gift cards aren‘t reloadable – once the balance is used, the card doesn‘t have any value. However, you can always purchase a new gift card in any amount from $10-$500.
The Bottom Line
Getting free Victoria‘s Secret gift cards is possible with some savvy online strategies. While you should steer clear of sketchy "free gift card code" offers, there are plenty of legitimate rewards apps and survey sites that let you earn points for gift cards.
Ultimately, it takes some time and effort to accumulate enough points for a free gift card. But if you enjoy online shopping and sharing your opinion, it can be a fun way to treat yourself to some new lingerie or beauty products. The key is being consistent, taking advantage of bonus point opportunities, and avoiding anything that sounds too good to be true.
Happy earning!