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Shop Smart: 5 Tips to Safely Use Your Gift Card Online

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Ready to spend those holiday balances? Before you hit "checkout," make sure you know how to safely use your gift card when shopping online. From verifying balances to securing your home Wi-Fi, here is everything you need to shop with confidence this January.

Did you score a stack of gift cards this holiday season? You aren’t alone! January 18th is officially National Use Your Gift Card Day, the perfect excuse to finally buy that item you’ve had sitting in your cart.

Whether you’re shopping for new gear for a snowy hike in the Finger Lakes or upgrading your home office in PA, shopping online is a breeze with your Empire Ffiber Internet connection. However, more time online means more opportunities for scammers. Before you hit “checkout,” here are the top 5 ways to keep your information secure.

1. Stick to the “S”

Before entering any card details, look at the URL bar. It should start with https:// (the ‘s’ stands for secure) and show a little padlock icon. If the site looks “off” or is missing that padlock, don’t enter your gift card code.

2. Avoid Public Wi-Fi for Purchases

If you’re out at a coffee shop, wait until you get back to your secure Empire Fiber Internet  home network to shop. Public Wi-Fi is often unencrypted, making it easy for hackers to “sniff” out the gift card numbers and PINs you type in.

3. Register Your Card

If the merchant allows it, register your gift card on their official website. This often provides “loss protection” if the card number is stolen, and it allows you to check your balance without using sketchy third-party “balance checker” sites that are often phishing traps.

4. Use Official Brand Apps

Instead of clicking links in a random text or email claiming you have a “bonus” on your card, go directly to the retailer’s official app or website. For an extra layer of security, use the Empire Access CommandIQ app to monitor which devices are on your network while you shop.

5. Treat It Like Cash

Remember, once a gift card balance is gone, it’s usually gone for good. Never give your gift card number to someone over the phone or via email who claims you owe a “fine” or “utility payment.” Legitimate businesses (including Empire Fiber Internet!) will never ask you to pay a bill with a retail gift card.

Happy shopping! What are you planning to pick up with your holiday gift cards this year?

Explore more ways to stay safe when online by visiting our Online Safety and Digital Smarts blog.

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Some restrictions apply. Offer available to new residential customers in designated service areas only. Customers with existing service or a pending installation are not eligible. This limited-time promotion provides three (3) free months of internet service, applied as billing credits in months 2, 6, and 12 of active service, on Empire Fiber Internet’s essentials (500/500 Mbps), enhanced (1/1 Gig), and elite (2/2 Gig) internet plans. Customers who order the enhanced or elite internet plan are also eligible to receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card after their first full month of active service and once the first invoice has been paid. If a customer downgrades from the enhanced or elite plan after receiving the Amazon eGift Card, they will forfeit eligibility for any remaining promotional free months of service. Orders must be placed online only and must use the promotional code at checkout to receive this offer. Order must be placed between January 2, 2026 (4:30 PM EST), and January 31, 2026 (11:59 PM EST).  Pricing includes enrollment in AutoPay and paperless billing. Customers who do not enroll in AutoPay and/or paperless billing will incur a $5/month fee for each. Offer may not be combined with other promotions and is non-transferable. Void where prohibited.

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Offer Eligibility: This promotion is valid for new residential customers only and applies to Empire Fiber Internet’s enhanced (1 Gig) and elite (2 Gig) internet plans. Customers who sign up for these plans will receive one month of free internet service, applied to the second month of service. The offer is available online only and is limited to one per household. It cannot be combined with any other promo codes or offers, and pending orders or installations are not eligible.

Redemption Process: Customers will receive their second month of service free after paying for their first month’s internet service.

Additional Terms: This offer is non-transferable, has no cash value, and cannot be combined with other promotions unless explicitly stated. Empire Fiber Internet reserves the right to modify or terminate this promotion at any time. Misuse or abuse of the offer may result in immediate termination and forfeiture of any remaining value.

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This is the plan for those who demand the best and won’t compromise on speed. The Elite plan delivers our most powerful connection, designed for the most demanding online activities. This is your no-lag, no-buffer experience for competitive gaming, large file uploads, and streaming high-quality video across multiple screens. It’s the ultimate performance that gives you a seamless, flawless connection, every time.

  • Includes Everything from the Essential and Enhanced Plans: Enjoy all the benefits of our foundational plan, plus these powerful upgrades.
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When life gets busy, your internet shouldn’t slow down. This plan is built for the connected household where multiple devices are running at once. Whether it’s remote work, homework, online gaming, or streaming in 4K, this plan provides the balance of speed and performance you need to keep everyone in the family connected and happy, all at the same time. It’s the peace of mind that comes from knowing your connection can handle whatever life throws at it.

  • Includes Everything from Essential: Enjoy all the benefits of our foundational plan, plus these powerful upgrades.
  • A Massive Speed Boost: Jump to 1 Gbps to power a truly connected home, perfect for multiple streamers, gamers, and remote workers
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The enhanced plan is ideal for homes with multiple users and devices.

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This is our most straightforward plan, designed for the quiet moments and simple needs of one or two people. It’s the perfect foundation for staying connected without overpaying. We focus on providing a reliable, no-frills connection for everything from checking email and browsing the web to streaming your favorite shows in standard definition. It’s internet that just works, providing the reliability you need at a price you’ll love.

  • Blazing-Fast Speeds: Experience smooth streaming and responsive browsing with speeds up to 500 Mbps.
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The essential plan is ideal for individuals or couples who are not heavy streamers or gamers.

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Limited-Time Offer! 

Offer Eligibility: New Empire Access customers who sign up for residential internet service between July 24, 2025, and August 15, 2025, at midnight Eastern Time are eligible to receive a one-time $200 Streaming Choice Card. You must place your fiber internet order online to qualify. Customer can participate in only one promo at a time.

Redemption Process: After maintaining 60 days of active service following installation, and so long as the account remains in good standing, customers will receive an email from MyBundle with instructions on how to redeem their one-time $200 Streaming Choice Card. Customers must complete the redemption within 90 days of receiving the email, or the offer will expire. 

Streaming Choice Card Issuance: The Streaming Choice Card will be provided as a one-time $200 virtual card that can be used toward streaming services, including new or existing subscriptions. 

Usage Guidelines: The $200 Streaming Choice Card must be used within 12 months of issuance, or any remaining balance will be forfeited.

Service Changes: If a customer cancels Empire Access service or their account is not in good standing before the bonus card is issued, they will forfeit eligibility for the offer. 

Additional Terms: This offer is non-transferable, has no cash value, and cannot be combined with other promotions unless explicitly stated. Empire Access and MyBundle reserve the right to modify or terminate this promotion at any time. Misuse or abuse of the offer may result in immediate termination and forfeiture of any remaining value.

By participating in this promotion, customers agree to these terms and conditions.