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 !!!
Nov 19, 2020, 11:50 am
#1051
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
I would request "refund of loaded funds" via check. Only if they absolutely refuse that option, I would then settle for a replacement for another USB VGC.
Nov 19, 2020, 2:18 pm
#1052
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: Hyatt Glob; M Titan; Hil Dia; IHG P, AMB;
Posts: 79
Totally agree. It was pain in the butt when I disputed. file claim, fax receipt, wait for the new card and call to get activation fee waived. I got amex plat last week with 10x pts at supermarket. but I do not want to buy GC at Krogers. horrible memories.
any other grocery stores that sells GC has no issues?
Nov 19, 2020, 8:16 pm
#1053
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 170
Nov 19, 2020, 8:49 pm
#1054
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: SPG Plat, SWA Companion Pass, United Silver
Posts: 186
I only buy when I’m headed straight to a WMT within 15 minutes or less. The last tampered card I picked up was one stored behind the customer service desk, which was even more frustrating because that was supposed to be the “secure” spot in the store.
Nov 20, 2020, 1:53 pm
#1055
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,507
Nov 20, 2020, 9:34 pm
#1057
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
I ran across what would have seemed like fraud, but may have just been demagnetized cards? I purchased 3 MetaBank VGCss from S&S in MA, and when I went to cash them out to MOs at a different grocery store nearby, the cards did not work on the swipe reader. Thinking it was the reader, I asked to try to process the transaction at a different register... and same issue 'card read error' on the other register, this was after trying multiple swipes, top to bottom, bottom to top, etc. At that point, I went back to my car and quickly registered the cards online -- they were showing the full balance, changed the pin, and once done, I called the issuer and I mentioned the mag-stripe did not work and was able to get the three cards replaced in the same call. I made sure to get a case number of the card replacement transaction from the rep on the phone, and they mentioned it would take a few business days to get mailed to the address I had registered them to.
I didn't think the packaging or card showed tampering, but since I didn't have any online way of liquidating them I figured replacing them would be the way to go. The 3 cards were by a register checkout, with a fourth card I did not purchase -- I may just go directly to the rack next time to possibly avoid any issues.
I may later carefully look at the mag-stripe of these cards, as looking through previous posts in this thread some have noticed glue or partial mag-stripe damage.
Edit: I looked at the physical mag-stripes and saw some scratches, but not sure if they were signs of tampering. The replacement cards arrived today (10/24) and activated with the full balance without any issue... now to unload them
I didn't think the packaging or card showed tampering, but since I didn't have any online way of liquidating them I figured replacing them would be the way to go. The 3 cards were by a register checkout, with a fourth card I did not purchase -- I may just go directly to the rack next time to possibly avoid any issues.
I may later carefully look at the mag-stripe of these cards, as looking through previous posts in this thread some have noticed glue or partial mag-stripe damage.
Edit: I looked at the physical mag-stripes and saw some scratches, but not sure if they were signs of tampering. The replacement cards arrived today (10/24) and activated with the full balance without any issue... now to unload them
Dec 24, 2020, 5:48 pm
#1060
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 85
Bought $100 Apple gift card from Target in store last month, went to load it to my account and got the error message that the code had already been redeemed. Packaging looks fine, security sticker was in place. Apple support said the code had been redeemed on the same day the card was purchased and there is nothing they can do and Target gift card department was closed after I got transferred to them. Not too optimistic on this since I used the Target Debit card to make the purchase as well. Anyone have this happen to them? Wondering if it is a wide spread problem?
Dec 24, 2020, 7:29 pm
#1061
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,060
Bought $100 Apple gift card from Target in store last month, went to load it to my account and got the error message that the code had already been redeemed. Packaging looks fine, security sticker was in place. Apple support said the code had been redeemed on the same day the card was purchased and there is nothing they can do and Target gift card department was closed after I got transferred to them. Not too optimistic on this since I used the Target Debit card to make the purchase as well. Anyone have this happen to them? Wondering if it is a wide spread problem?
Dec 25, 2020, 7:02 am
#1062
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
Bought $100 Apple gift card from Target in store last month, went to load it to my account and got the error message that the code had already been redeemed. Packaging looks fine, security sticker was in place. Apple support said the code had been redeemed on the same day the card was purchased and there is nothing they can do and Target gift card department was closed after I got transferred to them. Not too optimistic on this since I used the Target Debit card to make the purchase as well. Anyone have this happen to them? Wondering if it is a wide spread problem?
Dec 26, 2020, 5:00 pm
#1063
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest, Marriott Rewards, Hilton Honors
Posts: 255
I've heard reports of this as well, outside of FT. I'd be curious as to exactly how the Target "insiders/employees" were able to get the card numbers if the security seals were in place the entire time on the Apple cards.
Dec 26, 2020, 6:57 pm
#1064
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Globalist, M life Gold, IHG Spire
Posts: 918
Criminals are very good at committing crimes.
Except I got my money back. This situation with Apple/Target not refunding money is begging for a class action settlement.