Wal-Mart, Amex take on banks with Bluebird debit card
Jan 8, 2013, 4:04 pm
#5371
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 639
They appear to be legit cards with 4 digits of the PIN removed. I'm guessing that someone takes the cards from the store, scratches the coating off the back, records the full 10-digit PIN, removes the last four digits of the PIN (so you can't use it before they do), re-applies the coating (should be cheap to buy the equipment), and then returns them to the store. Then, they probably run a script (or pay meth heads to enter the codes manually) until they successfully steal your money.
Any other theories?
Any other theories?
Jan 8, 2013, 4:11 pm
#5372
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
Believe me, the crooks who did the original crime will be caught and prosecuted because they have left an electronic trail of bread crumbs (accounts) and an IP address that will be traced back to them. InComm will take this VERY seriously because it threatens their business. If you are unlucky enough to buy a fraudulent card, let InComm (VR) take care of you. You will get your money back!
Jan 8, 2013, 4:11 pm
#5373
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
So shouldn't a buyer scratch the card almost immediately after the purchase goes through then? If 4 digits are missing, you will know quite fast, and then the store can't accuse you of any shenanigans. Once the cashier hands you the receipt, scratch the card right then and there before you walk out the door.
Jan 8, 2013, 4:12 pm
#5374
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 543
They appear to be legit cards with 4 digits of the PIN removed. I'm guessing that someone takes the cards from the store, scratches the coating off the back, records the full 10-digit PIN, removes the last four digits of the PIN (so you can't use it before they do), re-applies the coating (should be cheap to buy the equipment), and then returns them to the store. Then, they probably run a script (or pay meth heads to enter the codes manually) until they successfully steal your money.
Any other theories?
Any other theories?
Jan 8, 2013, 4:13 pm
#5375
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 639
the cards like the vr are too easily hacked, they are going to have to recall em and reissue in protective packaging or reinvent the wheel with something new
Jan 8, 2013, 4:15 pm
#5377
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
Jan 8, 2013, 4:19 pm
#5379
Formerly known as fsa_ea
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS/1MM,AS 75k,NK GLD,AA 2MM,DL 2MM,LH FT,AY PLT,IC RA,FMT LT PLT,HYT GLB,HLT DIA,MRT GLD,HRTZ PC
Posts: 2,229
Be nice -- I am only trying to help others avoid being ripped off!
Jan 8, 2013, 4:20 pm
#5380
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 639
OK, OK, I agree that scratching off part of the PIN code is a VERY BAD idea. After all, if my theory is correct, they could leave all 10 digits of the PIN code and still steal your funds. I often wait days before I deposit the funds to my BB, so the crooks should have plenty of time to act before I do. I guess that the only thing you can do to protect yourself is to immediately deposit the funds to your BB after purchase.
Be nice -- I am only trying to help others avoid being ripped off!
Be nice -- I am only trying to help others avoid being ripped off!
Jan 8, 2013, 4:20 pm
#5381
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,389
Just got denied by a very power hungry shift supervisor at my local cvs. Stated that these "should" be cash only and he "called the corporate office and they are in the process of changing them to cash only, but in the meantime, to only accept cash."
I said thanks and walked out.
Meanwhile, I was at the same store yesterday and purchased with no hassle from the STORE MANAGER.
I said thanks and walked out.
Meanwhile, I was at the same store yesterday and purchased with no hassle from the STORE MANAGER.
Jan 8, 2013, 4:21 pm
#5382
Formerly known as fsa_ea
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS/1MM,AS 75k,NK GLD,AA 2MM,DL 2MM,LH FT,AY PLT,IC RA,FMT LT PLT,HYT GLB,HLT DIA,MRT GLD,HRTZ PC
Posts: 2,229
Jan 8, 2013, 4:24 pm
#5383
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, UA PS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,904
That's actually kind of weird ... I have never seen sequential vanilla reload serial numbers, and I've bought probably 100+ of the things since they started at OD last year.
Jan 8, 2013, 4:25 pm
#5385
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Just got denied by a very power hungry shift supervisor at my local cvs. Stated that these "should" be cash only and he "called the corporate office and they are in the process of changing them to cash only, but in the meantime, to only accept cash."
I said thanks and walked out.
Meanwhile, I was at the same store yesterday and purchased with no hassle from the STORE MANAGER.
I said thanks and walked out.
Meanwhile, I was at the same store yesterday and purchased with no hassle from the STORE MANAGER.