Saw this on the local news the other day - A new gift-card scam to watch out for

MrBond

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2000
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Here's a link to the article:

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=5773485

What a scammer does is go to stores and copy down the information from the back of gift cards. They then wait a few days for the card to be purchased, then go online and use the gift card to buy something.

I'm not sure how big of a problem this is. I've seen some gift cards where you have to scratch off an area to reveal the number if you want to use them online. Someone who's grabbing a bunch of gift cards and copying down the numbers on the back will probably be noticed.

Anyway, just a heads up. I don't think any of my gift-giving will be in the form of gift cards, but I'll be sure to grab one from the back of the stack if the numbers are right on them.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
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Couldn't the thief be caught when their merchandise arrives at their address ? Of course it takes collaboration with the store (online site)...
 

luckysnafu

Senior member
Jul 11, 2003
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Yeah, the local new around here did a piece on this as well and went to a Target store to show how easily it could be done. Nothing like announcing to everybody how to steal a gift card...
 

Mermaidman

Diamond Member
Sep 4, 2003
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What kind of stupid 'news' reporting is that?

You can't use a GC without the secret code, and I hope to god people know not to buy a GC whose scratch-off area is revealed.

 

Aharami

Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
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if people weren't stupid enough to purchase gift cards with scratch off secret code revealed, this wouldnt be a problem
 

MrBond

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Feb 5, 2000
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Originally posted by: rh71
Couldn't the thief be caught when their merchandise arrives at their address ? Of course it takes collaboration with the store (online site)...
Yeah, in theory, it should be easy to catch the thief.

All you'd need is the GC receipt and the original card. When the card shows up with zero balance or whatever, just contact the store with both and they should be able to run the numbers to see where the merchandise was sent.

The store would have to believe that you actually didn't use it online and made the story up to get twice the amount on the card. There may be some disclaimer that says the store's not responsible for lost or stolen cards, so they might have an out there.

It all boils down to how willing the company is to believe you and help you. Sort of like buying a new camcorder at Bestbuy and getting a jar of pasta sauce instead.
 

Mermaidman

Diamond Member
Sep 4, 2003
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Originally posted by: MrBond
Originally posted by: rh71
Couldn't the thief be caught when their merchandise arrives at their address ? Of course it takes collaboration with the store (online site)...
Yeah, in theory, it should be easy to catch the thief.

All you'd need is the GC receipt and the original card. When the card shows up with zero balance or whatever, just contact the store with both and they should be able to run the numbers to see where the merchandise was sent.
I tracked down a CC thief once using that method a few years ago. Guy used my stolen CC# and ordered some clothes from American Eagle. I convinced AE to provide shipment address to me.
 

zebano

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2005
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Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Originally posted by: MrBond
Originally posted by: rh71
Couldn't the thief be caught when their merchandise arrives at their address ? Of course it takes collaboration with the store (online site)...
Yeah, in theory, it should be easy to catch the thief.

All you'd need is the GC receipt and the original card. When the card shows up with zero balance or whatever, just contact the store with both and they should be able to run the numbers to see where the merchandise was sent.
I tracked down a CC thief once using that method a few years ago. Guy used my stolen CC# and ordered some clothes from American Eagle. I convinced AE to provide shipment address to me.

Thanks for the cliffhanger a-whole

 

Wapp

Golden Member
Jun 5, 2003
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My wife works for CVS as a PharmTech and they caught a couple doing this yesterday. The woman was distracting the only person at the front register while the man was writing the codes down. The only way CVS found out was due to another customer catching them in the act. You wouldn't believe the kind of stuff people try to pull off at those stores.