Vanilla reload broken PIN scam reports
Mar 24, 2014, 6:08 pm
#272
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 140
You can easily remove bits of the scratchcard with your fingernails to reveal, to see, if all 10 numbers are there prior to purchasing.
Extreme?
Not for people that have been duped. That fear, the horror, a sinking feeling, never goes away.
In truth, it was our fault. We didn't check.
In practice, if the scratchcard is intact with the security lines matching, the card is good.
The scratchcard is "poured on" and a good look will show if the card has been tampered.
Still worried?
Use your fingernails to scratch a lateral line cross the scratchcard, reveling the number are present, but not the clearly showing the numbers.
Or, scratch all the numbers clear, see that nothing has been tampered, then cover up with printer tape prior to purchasing.
If the numbers are missing, no loss. Report to the store.
In most cases, you'll know more about VR and it's uses than management/staff. I've found, telling them what you are doing, bringing them in on the project, offering to teach and explain what can be accomplish, brings the store personal on to your side. You're now a team and people want to help. People want to see you succeed.
Most don't want to bother, or the project is of no use, but people will help.
Keep your receipts. Keep your cards. Keep records. Be grateful and go for it big time. A great gift.
Thank to all at MS/FT for teaching/sharing.
P.S.
I've found the employees at VR/MVD to be very competent and know their stuff. Patient and more than, much more than willing to help. They are people too, nobody likes to see others ripped off.
BUT... you won't get ripped off if you LOOK AT THE CARD. CHECK THE CARDS.
Extreme?
Not for people that have been duped. That fear, the horror, a sinking feeling, never goes away.
In truth, it was our fault. We didn't check.
In practice, if the scratchcard is intact with the security lines matching, the card is good.
The scratchcard is "poured on" and a good look will show if the card has been tampered.
Still worried?
Use your fingernails to scratch a lateral line cross the scratchcard, reveling the number are present, but not the clearly showing the numbers.
Or, scratch all the numbers clear, see that nothing has been tampered, then cover up with printer tape prior to purchasing.
If the numbers are missing, no loss. Report to the store.
In most cases, you'll know more about VR and it's uses than management/staff. I've found, telling them what you are doing, bringing them in on the project, offering to teach and explain what can be accomplish, brings the store personal on to your side. You're now a team and people want to help. People want to see you succeed.
Most don't want to bother, or the project is of no use, but people will help.
Keep your receipts. Keep your cards. Keep records. Be grateful and go for it big time. A great gift.
Thank to all at MS/FT for teaching/sharing.
P.S.
I've found the employees at VR/MVD to be very competent and know their stuff. Patient and more than, much more than willing to help. They are people too, nobody likes to see others ripped off.
BUT... you won't get ripped off if you LOOK AT THE CARD. CHECK THE CARDS.
More details of my own experience and the final resolution below:
http://freetravelguys.com/bluebird/v...comment-100241
Mar 25, 2014, 1:25 pm
#273
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,456
While this makes it harder, it doesn't address the problem if the people who are stealing the PINs work for InComm. The card could have been tampered with before it even gets to CVS, in which case keeping them behind the counter is useless. Having CVS cash registers generate a random PIN on your receipt would probably be a more effective tool.
Mar 25, 2014, 2:28 pm
#275
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 140
Steeling at InComm?
You mean, at production. At the production line before the scratchcard cover is poured. Because if the security scratchcard is intact, the only people that had a chance to see the numbers are at the production line.
And similar to lottery scratchcards, I'm sure security is built into the automated system.
Meaning... STAMP, POUR... really, really, really fast inside the equipment.
Anyway.. this thread has only reported tampered VR that have been pretty obvious. People that have been duped (me included) just did not pay attention, did not look at the cards before purchasing.
You mean, at production. At the production line before the scratchcard cover is poured. Because if the security scratchcard is intact, the only people that had a chance to see the numbers are at the production line.
And similar to lottery scratchcards, I'm sure security is built into the automated system.
Meaning... STAMP, POUR... really, really, really fast inside the equipment.
Anyway.. this thread has only reported tampered VR that have been pretty obvious. People that have been duped (me included) just did not pay attention, did not look at the cards before purchasing.
Mar 25, 2014, 3:02 pm
#277
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 140
Exactly what I do. I carry my BB # on my phone and purchase at the store right next to my office, so I unload immediately. I scratch just enough to make sure all the numbers are there. And no, I haven't actually seen the con work live, other than online pictures. Some of them are pretty rough, but I think it's safe to assume that since it isn't a single person perpetrating this fraud all over the U.S. that some are much better than others. My parents purchased one but I didn't get to it until they were done scratching, so I don't know what it looked like before. Nowadays you can pretty much print a brand new seal and make it look brand new. So yes, I don't purchase anything unless I know the PIN is there.
Mar 25, 2014, 7:04 pm
#279
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 140
Not sure where the thingy link is. Not really versed on the art of scamming people.
Mar 25, 2014, 8:32 pm
#282
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 46
Invalid VR card
I hope someone can direct me to resolve this issue. There are several possible threads for this question.
Bought a VR at CVS 2 days ago. I go to load it tonight, put in the number and I get 'error something, invalid", try it again same thing. I look at the receipts for the 7 VRs I bought that day. All of the other receipts for the VRs that loaded match up with the last 4 numbers of the bar code on the bottom of the VR. The one that didn't load has the wrong number on the receipt, it does not match the card that won't load. I suspect the cashier typed in the wrong number but I don't know.
I called the # on the VR card and couldn't get through to a human.
What do I do? Is there a phone number to talk to a real person?
Bought a VR at CVS 2 days ago. I go to load it tonight, put in the number and I get 'error something, invalid", try it again same thing. I look at the receipts for the 7 VRs I bought that day. All of the other receipts for the VRs that loaded match up with the last 4 numbers of the bar code on the bottom of the VR. The one that didn't load has the wrong number on the receipt, it does not match the card that won't load. I suspect the cashier typed in the wrong number but I don't know.
I called the # on the VR card and couldn't get through to a human.
What do I do? Is there a phone number to talk to a real person?
Mar 25, 2014, 8:57 pm
#283
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 46
I hope someone can direct me to resolve this issue. There are several possible threads for this question.
Bought a VR at CVS 2 days ago. I go to load it tonight, put in the number and I get 'error something, invalid", try it again same thing. I look at the receipts for the 7 VRs I bought that day. All of the other receipts for the VRs that loaded match up with the last 4 numbers of the bar code on the bottom of the VR. The one that didn't load has the wrong number on the receipt, it does not match the card that won't load. I suspect the cashier typed in the wrong number but I don't know.
I called the # on the VR card and couldn't get through to a human.
What do I do? Is there a phone number to talk to a real person?
Bought a VR at CVS 2 days ago. I go to load it tonight, put in the number and I get 'error something, invalid", try it again same thing. I look at the receipts for the 7 VRs I bought that day. All of the other receipts for the VRs that loaded match up with the last 4 numbers of the bar code on the bottom of the VR. The one that didn't load has the wrong number on the receipt, it does not match the card that won't load. I suspect the cashier typed in the wrong number but I don't know.
I called the # on the VR card and couldn't get through to a human.
What do I do? Is there a phone number to talk to a real person?
Mar 25, 2014, 9:10 pm
#284
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 46
Ok same poster, I read back a few pages about how to get to VR CSR. She said the card is invalid. However Barclays MC has posted the charge on my Mastercard Account. Now I'm not too thrilled about calling Barclays and disputing a VR charge. I will call CVS tomorrow but not sure how they are going to help. "Sorry fella you bought it".
Mar 25, 2014, 9:52 pm
#285
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
Ok same poster, I read back a few pages about how to get to VR CSR. She said the card is invalid. However Barclays MC has posted the charge on my Mastercard Account. Now I'm not too thrilled about calling Barclays and disputing a VR charge. I will call CVS tomorrow but not sure how they are going to help. "Sorry fella you bought it".
So call CVs CS 800# and explain what happened, They will contact Incomm and the outside company to get all the digits to the card and have Incomm trace it to see what happened to it. Hopefully it was thrown away and eventually (took me 1 month) I got a call from the mgr at the CV I brought it at, to come in bring the non-activated card my CC and DL and they Refunded me the $$$