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 !!!
Dec 11, 2017, 9:27 pm
#947
Join Date: May 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, UA, DL, NSA, CIA, MIB
Posts: 537
That's what I thought as well. I suppose I could word it delicately about their 'slip' in my forms.
Dec 12, 2017, 8:54 am
#948
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,099
I just ended up with another compromised gift card. The joker drained it at Dollar General in Perris, CA. I guess his or her BB/Serve accounts haven't been shut down yet.
Now I've got the hassle of begging to get my money back. It was a $500 from Walmart.
Now I've got the hassle of begging to get my money back. It was a $500 from Walmart.
Dec 12, 2017, 9:13 am
#949
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX, BUR
Programs: AS,AA,JB, HH Gold, Starriott Titanium Elite, Hyatt Explorist, Global Entry
Posts: 1,933
Jan 24, 2018, 9:18 am
#950
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,066
Greenie from Walmart got compromised yesterday. Bought on 1/22 and on 1/23 someone made a $5 purchase at a store. I got a Not Authorized error, checked the balance later, saw $495 balance, and called in to freeze the card and get a replacement sent to me. No indications of foul play on the greenie I grabbed.
Jan 24, 2018, 11:19 am
#951
Join Date: May 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, UA, DL, NSA, CIA, MIB
Posts: 537
I had 2 cards tampered with that I bought at Ralphs in S. Cal before Thanksgiving. I went to use them at a WM and they wouldn't read in the POS. I went to a 2nd and 3rd WM and same thing. This is when I called the 877 on the back. They said they would send me new cards. When those arrived about 7 days later I called to activate them. Both had been drained! Pennies left on them. I had even changed the PIN after the 1st WM. I had to call and go through the Fraud thing, they said they'd said they're sending me the paper work to fill out and return to them. I still haven't seen the paper work......2 weeks now. How long does this take?
*the fraud dispute letters arrived later today*
*the fraud dispute letters arrived later today*
Jan 24, 2018, 2:30 pm
#952
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
When I had issues with WMGD activation, I was given a number by an associate to call and WMGD dept called the store to give me cash refund due to activation failure at their store. I got a call later from them to proceed to the store and look for the AM to get my cash refund. It took five business days but it ended positively.
Jan 24, 2018, 2:45 pm
#953
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,066
is the compromised card a WM GDot VGC? if yes, this is the first time I've read of a WMGD VGC compromised. I never thought WMGD GCs would be compromised, I don't buy those with stubs already pulled out, I look for an associate and tell them to take them off the shelves. I hope you get your money back if you haven't gotten it back yet.
When I had issues with WMGD activation, I was given a number by an associate to call and WMGD dept called the store to give me cash refund due to activation failure at their store. I got a call later from them to proceed to the store and look for the AM to get my cash refund. It took five business days but it ended positively.
When I had issues with WMGD activation, I was given a number by an associate to call and WMGD dept called the store to give me cash refund due to activation failure at their store. I got a call later from them to proceed to the store and look for the AM to get my cash refund. It took five business days but it ended positively.
I think this shows that no card is immune to these guys. At least I caught it the day after I loaded. This is actually the first time someone actually used funds I loaded and I've bought tons of US Bank cards in the past.
Jan 25, 2018, 9:35 am
#954
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,099
Yes, a GD. The package looked fine. There was a large rack of them and I pulled it off the top of the rack, did a quick inspection, and bought it. In hindsight, when I opened it, there may have been more glue. When I went to use the card, it had been drained at about 40 miles away, with only about $5 left on it. Thankfully, I did get a refund. With the death of the birds, I don't MS very much, and this type of thing is very disappointing and you run the risk of having to absorb the theft.
Jan 25, 2018, 10:30 am
#955
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SAN
Programs: Delta Gold. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Explorist.
Posts: 1,674
I think with cards that you grab off the shelf (whether at CVS, Walmart, Grocery store), you should only buy them if you can drain them that day, preferably within one hour or less.
Jan 25, 2018, 10:50 am
#956
Join Date: May 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, UA, DL, NSA, CIA, MIB
Posts: 537
This is why I'm buying my cards through GCM. I smaller chance they will be compromised.
Mar 7, 2018, 7:28 pm
#957
Join Date: May 2014
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, UA, DL, NSA, CIA, MIB
Posts: 537
I had 2 cards tampered with that I bought at Ralphs in S. Cal before Thanksgiving. I went to use them at a WM and they wouldn't read in the POS. I went to a 2nd and 3rd WM and same thing. This is when I called the 877 on the back. They said they would send me new cards. When those arrived about 7 days later I called to activate them. Both had been drained! Pennies left on them. I had even changed the PIN after the 1st WM. I had to call and go through the Fraud thing, they said they'd said they're sending me the paper work to fill out and return to them. I still haven't seen the paper work......2 weeks now. How long does this take?
*the fraud dispute letters arrived later today*
*the fraud dispute letters arrived later today*
Good thing I kept those cards! Balance restored, checked and changed the PIN.
Mar 7, 2018, 7:37 pm
#958
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 116
Go as soon as you can and buy MO or something, i have one card drained twice so if i were you i don't sleep on those cards today but it just me.
Mar 7, 2018, 10:53 pm
#959
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,060
