Straight Talk refills

[ponyo]

I'm noticing lot more really cheap 3 or 6 months refills on Amazon and Ebay. Like $78 for 3 months refill and $154 for 6 months refill. These are $135/90 days and $270/180 days card. It works out to like $26 a month for what's normally $45 service. Impossible cheap since even Walmart can't discount it like that. I'm wondering who here has bought these cheap refills and if you're worried about fraud/scam? It's pretty obvious these refills are sourced illegally considering the absurd low price. I have stopped using Crazygametime to refill and have gone back to buying the physical cards at Walmart because of concerns about supporting criminal operations.

 

[ImDonly1]

I saw them too and was tempted. I used to buy from crazygametime, but their prices aren't that much lower anymore.

There is a big thread on slickdeals and howardforums of people buying these refills without problem. The thing is every fraud/scam refill thread from ebay I have read, these things don't get reported until 6 months later. So who knows what will happen in 6 mos?

I think next month I'm going to do one of those 3 month refills for $80. Lots of those sellers on ebay have 2000 positive ratings, surely after 2000 ratings they have to be somewhat legit?

 

[Druidx]

I've bought several cheap 90 days refills off amazon and ebay. Just use a little common sense, stick to the sellers who have been around for a while with positive reviews.

 

[ImDonly1]

Just an update,
I bought a refill from netstrada. 3 months for $80. It was added in 2 hours.

We'll see how it goes.
This means I paid ~$27/mo.

 

[ponyo]

I should add I'm not concerned about the refills not working. I'm pretty sure it will work and I'll get service if I buy one of these absurd low priced refills. It's just knowing there's likely fraud/criminal activity involved and any purchase supporting/helping criminals. Do you get guilty conscience?

 

[VirtualLarry]

CC money laundering scams?

 

[ImDonly1]

I should add I'm not concerned about the refills not working. I'm pretty sure it will work and I'll get service if I buy one of these absurd low priced refills. It's just knowing there's likely fraud/criminal activity involved and any purchase supporting/helping criminals. Do you get guilty conscience?

I'm more worried about ST calling me in 6 mos and asking me to pay for the service retroactively due to fraudulent refills.

Who knows some of these might be legit?
A year ago, ST did a promo where if you buy a cheap $30 flip phone and $45 refill card, the phone is free. So I bought 8 of them, kept the refill cards and sold the phones on Amazon for $40/ea.

 

[dabuddha]

I've been tempted too but I don't want my phone getting cut off

 

[alangrift]

Can't you buy refills straight from the vendors?

 

[s44]

It's just knowing there's likely fraud/criminal activity involved and any purchase supporting/helping criminals. Do you get guilty conscience?

It's perhaps as likely to be money laundering as straight out credit card fraud... That probably doesn't make you feel better though.