Has Anyone this Year or Even Around the Holidays, Heard of Gift Card Scams?

[Paris13]

***Card Draining is the Newest Scam. How pathetic!!! xxoo

[AutumnSerenity]

Yeah, I’ve heard of it. What these scammers are doing is: they take the gift cards out of the store without paying for them, then apply some heat on the envelope containing the gift card to carefully remove the gift card without damaging the envelope, they steal the card information, put the card back in, re-glue the envelope, and put it back in the store. It’s costing retailers money having to refund everyone that’s been scammed so they’ll likely remove gift cards from the shelves soon if the card companies can’t come up with better security measures.

[Paris13]

Wow!!! Thanks for Sharing, dear. xx

[Orangekiss]

Just means another thing that will be put behind glass under lock and key. Thanks scammers.

[Orangekiss]

Never heard of it. It would have been nice if you told the uninformed what it is and how it works. Like maybe in a My Take?

[Paris13]

We Were Not Following. lol!!! I AM NOW. However, Gaggy Gave Me a Congrats on MY Question. xxoo

[CalmUntilAbused]

Not really, I don't use gift cards. I mean... Giving someone a gift card is basically saying: "I don't know You well enough to be able to choose a present for You, choose it Yourself. Oh, and (insert the value of the gift card here) is the most You can spend." How does that sound? I would expect people to actually get hurt when being given gift cards.

[Paris13]

It's So YOU can Get Something YOU want. lolxx

[CalmUntilAbused]

Well... That's how it's usually explained, but I feel like gifts should be kind of personal. I mean, if You don't know what someone would like to get themselves, are You really close enough to that person? The hints are usually all over the place, if You count every conversation going like: "Oh, I'd like to get myself a new X" or "I really need a new Y".

[CalmUntilAbused]

Sometimes You might not realize that You know the person this well. But a personalized gift is always a better option, if possible at all.

[Massageman]

We will only give "mainline" cards through known legit means, and only if that is a request on the recipient's list. I really hate them, especially since some carry a
"handling fee" just to buy them, and some even have expiry dates.

[Paris13]

Ahhhh, Yes. xx

[AviatorTom]

I never give gift cards. Cash or a check in a nice Christmas card is what I do instead.

Yes, I still have checks.

[Paris13]

Great Going!!! xx

[Likes2drive]

I’ve known about those for years, scammers try all kinds of things

[Paris13]

Okay, Big Guy. xx

[BoopBoopBeep]

As someone who has bought, shall we say, "many" gift cards in life... this has been a thing for quite some time.

[Paris13]

Yes, But Card Draining Big in The News, I am Told. xx

[BoopBoopBeep]

Yeah card draining is what I'm talking about. The little scratch away is still on and everything, but the card now has zero balance. It's an old scam in the U. S. I remember reading about it long before covid and I got hit on one of my bulk purchases 7 years ago.

[OlderAndWiser]

I avoid giving gift cards whenever possible.

[Paris13]

OLder and Much Wiser. xx

[exitseven]

Yes, every year it happens.

[Paris13]

Wow!!! xx

[RageBabe]

No, I wasn't aware of this, but I appreciate you sharing. Without a doubt, I will investigate it further.

[Paris13]

I am Also Now Getting Educated With You, @RageBabe xxoo

[OddBeMe]

Well the whole idea of gift cards is a scam, technically. We generally toss gift cards when they’re only worth a buck or less. Corporations basically sold us on donating a dollar to them for the holidays.

[Paris13]

A Good Benefit Then. xx

[OddBeMe]

To billion dollar corps, yeah.

[Sparkie460]

Yes I've heard about it. Open the gift card right in front of the cashier to make sure there is actually a card in there and check for any tampering with the packaging

[Sparkie460]

For those that don't know They steam open the package and either take out the gift card and replace it with a piece of cardboard with the same numbers or they copy the card numbers and when you put money on the card it goes into their account.

Make sure there are no bends or creases on the packaging

[Paris13]

Great!!! xx

[love_conquers_lust]

Yup. I heard they go so far as to do it do it through LinkedIn asking for your credit card number. Some people have no sense of honor.

[Paris13]

I Knowwwwww. xx

[worldscolide]

I have indeed. It's nuts. Someone in California was arrested for it, but it seems to be rampant this year.

[Paris13]

Wow!!! xx

[Surely]

Yes I have. The Trump hating news is covering this. So it just has to be true!
To those that haven’t heard. Make sure that your gift card packaging wasn’t opened.

[Paris13]

Ohhhhh Wow!!! However, a Sad and Bad can of Worms on The Judge in Colorado Who is Banning HIM. lolxx

[Iron_Man]

Do they come from Denny’s

[Paris13]

lol!!! Giftie Card to Denny's, TIGER? Hope It Works. lol!!! xx

[Iron_Man]

Enjoy Dennys

[Joshydavid25]

Not at all Paris.. But thanks for the look out.. I can always count on you!..

[Paris13]

lol!!! Thanks, JD!!! xx

[clampfan101]

I never trusted those things. (Or at least saw a point to them.)

[Paris13]

I Never Had a Problem... xx

[KostasKouvalis]

No, but I'm not surprised. People are assholes

[Paris13]

Yessss!!! xx

[HouseMoat]

Gift card scams have existed even before the holidays.

[Paris13]

Never Paid Any Mind But Not Surprised. xx

[fuddly]

Haven't heard of it

I don't like the idea of gift cards anyway

[Paris13]

I Like Walmart. lolxx

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I saw a clip on the news last night about it.

[Paris13]

Wow!!! xx

[Altheavas]

This has been going for years, it’s not new.

[Paris13]

Card Draining Warned those Ignorant Though on The News. xx

[Altheavas]

Unfortunately, not everyone has active listening!

[England4eva]

Can someone explain what this is?

[Paris13]

I Guess Draining a Gift Card Before You Can Give IT to Use. xx