Apr 13, 2015, 12:55 pm
Last edit by: phant0m
************Gift Card Fraud Alert************
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
How can I protect myself?
1) Do not buy a card that has been opened or looks tampered with. Inspect all packaging thoroughly before purchasing. Many posters say that the packaging looks pristine, but the glue seems excessive once opened. Open the package to inspect the glue before you pay for it, if the cashier allows that.
2) Use the card quickly. The card has no value until YOU add money. If you spend your funds before the fraudster figures out that it's loaded, you win. Or at least register your card. That might give you another layer of security but beware it might NOT be bulletproof.
3) Keep your receipts and packaging until your card is liquidated. You will need the receipt to make a claim.
I'll add a few more from the school of hard knocks (also now known as the school of the paranoid MSer)....
4) If it's the only card of its type left on the rack, should you buy it or not? Consider: did the fraudster remove all the other cards so some sucker would quickly come along quickly and buy the card he has placed there purposefully?
5) A corollary to #4: Should you buy the top card in a stack of cards, or dig deeper and pick out one a distance from the top? Did the fraudster put the card he wants some sucker to buy at the top of the stack so it would sell quickly and he could do his evil deed?
6) Open card packages soon after purchase. Don't wait a few days. If anything looks amiss (too much glue inside the pack, too little glue inside, glue in the wrong location, mag stripe doesn't look right, some card numbers illegible), call the 800 number on the back of the card immediately to report it and ask about a replacement.
Each link of Gift Card MS:
1. Gift Card issuer: Vanilla, Metabank, US Bank, Green Dot etc. There can be data hack. It is rare.
2. GC Merchant: grocery and drug stores. Online GC sellers (Simon Mall, Gift Card Mall etc.). The data hack is possible, but rare.
3. Shipping: GCs can be stolen. But this is not fraud.
4. GC Cash Out: Walmart, Dollar General, Family Dollar, CVS etc. This is very rare.
For unsold GCs with bar code exposed, the store is required to destroy the GCs. Fraud can happen when the unsuspecting store staff return the unsold GCs back to the shelf. But it is very rare to have a batch of GCs all tampered and returned to the store shelf.
Here is a web site with information about gift card fraud:
http://www.tripwire.com/state-of-sec...-so-lucrative/
Here are some stores where FT members have experienced fraud:
List of Stores to avoid or be Alert:
(1) Reported by IWOL in So Cal:
VONS => Ventura Blvd & Reseda
Reported by Lovenola:
Ralph's in Downey at 9200 Lakewood Blvd.
Ralph's in Pasadena at 211 E. Foothill Blvd.
Ralph's in Monrovia at 1193 Huntington Dr.
3) Reported by domino007
Ralphs in 13321 Jamboree Rd, Tustin
Ralphs in Irvine on Alton, Walnut and Irvine Blvd
Reported by DaveInLA:
Ralphs in Brea- 305 W Imperial Hwy. VGC was purchased in 12/2014.
Reported by 46sky:
Ralphs in Culver City on Venice Blvd - VGC purchased 2/2015.
Reported by Chrisflyer66:
Ralphs in San Diego on Sports Arena - VGCs purchased in 2014-2015.
Ralph's - 1435 W Chapman Ave, Orange, CA 92868 - Purchased 12/2019
Seems to me that only People in so.Cal are reporting
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
How can I protect myself?
1) Do not buy a card that has been opened or looks tampered with. Inspect all packaging thoroughly before purchasing. Many posters say that the packaging looks pristine, but the glue seems excessive once opened. Open the package to inspect the glue before you pay for it, if the cashier allows that.
2) Use the card quickly. The card has no value until YOU add money. If you spend your funds before the fraudster figures out that it's loaded, you win. Or at least register your card. That might give you another layer of security but beware it might NOT be bulletproof.
3) Keep your receipts and packaging until your card is liquidated. You will need the receipt to make a claim.
I'll add a few more from the school of hard knocks (also now known as the school of the paranoid MSer)....
4) If it's the only card of its type left on the rack, should you buy it or not? Consider: did the fraudster remove all the other cards so some sucker would quickly come along quickly and buy the card he has placed there purposefully?
5) A corollary to #4: Should you buy the top card in a stack of cards, or dig deeper and pick out one a distance from the top? Did the fraudster put the card he wants some sucker to buy at the top of the stack so it would sell quickly and he could do his evil deed?
6) Open card packages soon after purchase. Don't wait a few days. If anything looks amiss (too much glue inside the pack, too little glue inside, glue in the wrong location, mag stripe doesn't look right, some card numbers illegible), call the 800 number on the back of the card immediately to report it and ask about a replacement.
Each link of Gift Card MS:
1. Gift Card issuer: Vanilla, Metabank, US Bank, Green Dot etc. There can be data hack. It is rare.
2. GC Merchant: grocery and drug stores. Online GC sellers (Simon Mall, Gift Card Mall etc.). The data hack is possible, but rare.
3. Shipping: GCs can be stolen. But this is not fraud.
4. GC Cash Out: Walmart, Dollar General, Family Dollar, CVS etc. This is very rare.
For unsold GCs with bar code exposed, the store is required to destroy the GCs. Fraud can happen when the unsuspecting store staff return the unsold GCs back to the shelf. But it is very rare to have a batch of GCs all tampered and returned to the store shelf.
Here is a web site with information about gift card fraud:
http://www.tripwire.com/state-of-sec...-so-lucrative/
Here are some stores where FT members have experienced fraud:
List of Stores to avoid or be Alert:
(1) Reported by IWOL in So Cal:
VONS => Ventura Blvd & Reseda
Reported by Lovenola:
Ralph's in Downey at 9200 Lakewood Blvd.
Ralph's in Pasadena at 211 E. Foothill Blvd.
Ralph's in Monrovia at 1193 Huntington Dr.
3) Reported by domino007
Ralphs in 13321 Jamboree Rd, Tustin
Ralphs in Irvine on Alton, Walnut and Irvine Blvd
Reported by DaveInLA:
Ralphs in Brea- 305 W Imperial Hwy. VGC was purchased in 12/2014.
Reported by 46sky:
Ralphs in Culver City on Venice Blvd - VGC purchased 2/2015.
Reported by Chrisflyer66:
Ralphs in San Diego on Sports Arena - VGCs purchased in 2014-2015.
Ralph's - 1435 W Chapman Ave, Orange, CA 92868 - Purchased 12/2019
Seems to me that only People in so.Cal are reporting
Gift Card Fraud !!!
Apr 17, 2015, 12:45 am
#601
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 168
Bought 2 VGC at Ralph's in Van Nuys. One loaded to BB fine. The other card has the dots of weird glue that does not come off easily.
Faxed all my info in the next day. Heard nothing for over 2 months. Filed dispute with CC company.
Haven't heard a word for about 5 weeks since dispute. If dispute is denied next step will be to file small claims against Ralph's and also USB.
They will settle I'm sure of it, just might cost them some extra fees for court costs and service. I have all receipts and packaging, complied with all the requests for info.
Might take the advice in some of the previous posts and walk into the store tomorrow and talk with the mgr, tried doing this an hour after purchase but no mgr was available.
Sick to death dealing with this.
Faxed all my info in the next day. Heard nothing for over 2 months. Filed dispute with CC company.
Haven't heard a word for about 5 weeks since dispute. If dispute is denied next step will be to file small claims against Ralph's and also USB.
They will settle I'm sure of it, just might cost them some extra fees for court costs and service. I have all receipts and packaging, complied with all the requests for info.
Might take the advice in some of the previous posts and walk into the store tomorrow and talk with the mgr, tried doing this an hour after purchase but no mgr was available.
Sick to death dealing with this.
I have dealt with these people several times and they are the most incompetent bunch I have ever had the pleasure of talking to. You have to call and and get very angry to get any result but in my case with about 8 tampered cards I have always eventually received a replacement, some taking up to 3 months.
Apr 17, 2015, 3:00 pm
#602
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 93
Datapoint: Purchased 5 $500 Sunrise VGCs from Walmart #2177 off Aero Drive in San Diego today. Four are fine, but two were tampered with and had some numbers scratched off the front. Immediately tried to drain via Square, but the magnetic strip isn't working either. Went back into the store, they called a customer service line (Green Dot), and the rep filed two claims for me. I just sent in pics of the cards and receipts, and she assured me I'll have a check from them within a few weeks.
Apr 17, 2015, 6:02 pm
#603
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 572
Datapoint: Purchased 5 $500 Sunrise VGCs from Walmart #2177 off Aero Drive in San Diego today. Four are fine, but two were tampered with and had some numbers scratched off the front. Immediately tried to drain via Square, but the magnetic strip isn't working either. Went back into the store, they called a customer service line (Green Dot), and the rep filed two claims for me. I just sent in pics of the cards and receipts, and she assured me I'll have a check from them within a few weeks.
I purchased one tampered $500 Visa at WM in Santee, Ca on February 27, 2015. Had to send a pic of the front and back of the GC and a pic of my receipt. The thief used the funds 4 days later (March 3, 2015). I had to file dispute of the transactions the thief made and it took about 6 weeks and about 10 phone calls to get a $500 check.
Apr 17, 2015, 6:42 pm
#604
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: TX
Posts: 756
4 are fine and 2 are bad. How many have you really purchased. Obviously not 5.
I purchased one tampered $500 Visa at WM in Santee, Ca on February 27, 2015. Had to send a pic of the front and back of the GC and a pic of my receipt. The thief used the funds 4 days later (March 3, 2015). I had to file dispute of the transactions the thief made and it took about 6 weeks and about 10 phone calls to get a $500 check.
I purchased one tampered $500 Visa at WM in Santee, Ca on February 27, 2015. Had to send a pic of the front and back of the GC and a pic of my receipt. The thief used the funds 4 days later (March 3, 2015). I had to file dispute of the transactions the thief made and it took about 6 weeks and about 10 phone calls to get a $500 check.
Apr 17, 2015, 8:14 pm
#605
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 93
4 are fine and 2 are bad. How many have you really purchased. Obviously not 5.
I purchased one tampered $500 Visa at WM in Santee, Ca on February 27, 2015. Had to send a pic of the front and back of the GC and a pic of my receipt. The thief used the funds 4 days later (March 3, 2015). I had to file dispute of the transactions the thief made and it took about 6 weeks and about 10 phone calls to get a $500 check.
I purchased one tampered $500 Visa at WM in Santee, Ca on February 27, 2015. Had to send a pic of the front and back of the GC and a pic of my receipt. The thief used the funds 4 days later (March 3, 2015). I had to file dispute of the transactions the thief made and it took about 6 weeks and about 10 phone calls to get a $500 check.
Coincidentally, I was in the Santee store a few days ago looking for Sunrises, but couldn't find any. Good thing, I guess.
Apr 18, 2015, 7:30 am
#606
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,273
4 are fine and 2 are bad. How many have you really purchased. Obviously not 5.
I purchased one tampered $500 Visa at WM in Santee, Ca on February 27, 2015. Had to send a pic of the front and back of the GC and a pic of my receipt. The thief used the funds 4 days later (March 3, 2015). I had to file dispute of the transactions the thief made and it took about 6 weeks and about 10 phone calls to get a $500 check.
I purchased one tampered $500 Visa at WM in Santee, Ca on February 27, 2015. Had to send a pic of the front and back of the GC and a pic of my receipt. The thief used the funds 4 days later (March 3, 2015). I had to file dispute of the transactions the thief made and it took about 6 weeks and about 10 phone calls to get a $500 check.
Apr 18, 2015, 8:13 am
#607
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 572
I noticed the card was bad immediately after the purchase. The barcode on the purchased card was from another (the thief's) giftcard. The manager and me reported this scam within 20 minutes but WM giftcard dept did nothing about it, although they could see where my money went. They didn't freeze the funds, nothing. They just waited until the thief used the money, then I was asked to file a dispute on the thief's card. What a joke.
Apr 22, 2015, 10:23 am
#608
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LAX
Posts: 238
New Ralphs location - Had 3 cards purchased from Ralphs @ Tustin, CA. No packaging issue (atleast I felt so). Due to some travel I was not able to drain it the next day. 2 cards drained out totally @ Amazon / Amazon Market Place. 1 card was used at Amway but it was blocked as hence the funds are still there. Opened replacement card / fraud process. Was told the blocked card will be replaced within 10 days. While the other two will take 3-4 weeks.
Apr 25, 2015, 4:04 pm
#609
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Krisflyer, hyatt GP
Posts: 186
Another data point: Purchased MCGC last night in Ralphs, Culver Dr Irvine CA. no sign of tampering at all. Tried to use it this morning and got insufficient fund msg. Then i checked online, there was $1 GAP transaction, $499 still on the card. Called 1800 number immediately and they deactivate the card, asking me to fax front n back of the card, packaging (not sure why packaging?), name, email, address, phone number.
Apr 25, 2015, 7:46 pm
#610
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: CA
Posts: 188
Finally got to me too
Bought a metabank VGC from safeway 5 days back. Tried to drain it today but didn't go through. Realised the 3 digit security code was tampered with. Immediately called customer service. told me to fax the documents. have done it...hoping for the best.
Do you think I can go to safeway and talk to the manager to resolve it faster or that is not gonna work?
Do you think I can go to safeway and talk to the manager to resolve it faster or that is not gonna work?
May 2, 2015, 12:42 am
#611
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 4
Anyone has a phone number for this dispute department for metabank vgc? Thank you.
Did you try calling in to check if they have received your fax. They are the absolute worst people to deal with. There is a direct number to the dispute dept. but I don't have the number any longer. If you call the dispute dept and tell them that you have faxed your paperwork months ago and nothing has been done. Demand that they verify for you if you paperwork was received or not or make the rep contact the dept that receives the faxes to make sure they have it.
I have dealt with these people several times and they are the most incompetent bunch I have ever had the pleasure of talking to. You have to call and and get very angry to get any result but in my case with about 8 tampered cards I have always eventually received a replacement, some taking up to 3 months.
I have dealt with these people several times and they are the most incompetent bunch I have ever had the pleasure of talking to. You have to call and and get very angry to get any result but in my case with about 8 tampered cards I have always eventually received a replacement, some taking up to 3 months.
May 2, 2015, 12:57 am
#612
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 168
Purchased 2 VGC at Ralph's in Burbank, CA today on Buena Vista and. Victory Blvd.
Packaging looked fine on the outside. Opened them up as soon as I left and both cards had 4 numbers scratched off the front and cvv code missing. Called right away to report and they gave me a number to Kroger.
Called Kroger to explain the situation while I was in the store. Gave rep numbers on the back of the card to identify them. Very nice rep was able to transfer the funds form both cards to 2 new VGC saving me the trouble of dealing with all he faxing BS and the 3 week wait for replacements.
Always open cards immediately if buying at a Kroger location. If the cards are tampered with you can get them replaced in the store and walk out with new cards and avoid all the hassle.
Packaging looked fine on the outside. Opened them up as soon as I left and both cards had 4 numbers scratched off the front and cvv code missing. Called right away to report and they gave me a number to Kroger.
Called Kroger to explain the situation while I was in the store. Gave rep numbers on the back of the card to identify them. Very nice rep was able to transfer the funds form both cards to 2 new VGC saving me the trouble of dealing with all he faxing BS and the 3 week wait for replacements.
Always open cards immediately if buying at a Kroger location. If the cards are tampered with you can get them replaced in the store and walk out with new cards and avoid all the hassle.
May 5, 2015, 11:31 am
#613
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: DFW
Posts: 685
Bought two $500 visa's from a DFW area Kroger a few days ago, waited a bit longer than usual to unload them and each card got hit with a $5 GAP authorization. I drained the remaining $495 from each of them and will wait to see if the $5 auths drop off. The GAP scam has hit TX.
May 5, 2015, 12:57 pm
#614
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 787
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,306
Bought two $500 visa's from a DFW area Kroger a few days ago, waited a bit longer than usual to unload them and each card got hit with a $5 GAP authorization. I drained the remaining $495 from each of them and will wait to see if the $5 auths drop off. The GAP scam has hit TX.
May 5, 2015, 6:04 pm
#615
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, DL, Hyatt, Hilton
Posts: 127
Purchased 2 VGC at Ralph's in Burbank, CA today on Buena Vista and. Victory Blvd.
Packaging looked fine on the outside. Opened them up as soon as I left and both cards had 4 numbers scratched off the front and cvv code missing. Called right away to report and they gave me a number to Kroger.
Called Kroger to explain the situation while I was in the store. Gave rep numbers on the back of the card to identify them. Very nice rep was able to transfer the funds form both cards to 2 new VGC saving me the trouble of dealing with all he faxing BS and the 3 week wait for replacements.
Always open cards immediately if buying at a Kroger location. If the cards are tampered with you can get them replaced in the store and walk out with new cards and avoid all the hassle.
Packaging looked fine on the outside. Opened them up as soon as I left and both cards had 4 numbers scratched off the front and cvv code missing. Called right away to report and they gave me a number to Kroger.
Called Kroger to explain the situation while I was in the store. Gave rep numbers on the back of the card to identify them. Very nice rep was able to transfer the funds form both cards to 2 new VGC saving me the trouble of dealing with all he faxing BS and the 3 week wait for replacements.
Always open cards immediately if buying at a Kroger location. If the cards are tampered with you can get them replaced in the store and walk out with new cards and avoid all the hassle.
