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Gift Card Theft

Observant1
edited December 24 in Off-Topic
"Unfortunately, soaring sales are accompanied by gift card theft, an easy heist that carries little risk
of getting caught. Stealing money from gift cards has become so lucrative that foreign fraudsters
are now involved. U.S. law enforcement is focusing on criminal gangs in China that are targeting
the U.S. gift card market (more on that later)."

"'The minute you load money onto one of those cards, the crooks are notified, and they instantly drain it,
sometimes even before you leave the store,' said Amy Nofziger, director of fraud victim support
at the AARP Fraud Watch Network. 'Unfortunately, the theft may not be discovered for weeks
or even months after the purchase, when the recipient uses the card and it’s worthless.'"

https://www.checkbook.org/puget-sound-area/consumers-notebook/articles/Watch-Out-for-Worthless-Gift-Cards-7884

Comments: I wasn't aware that gift card theft was so prevalent or so lucrative for criminals.

Comments

  • MarkMark
    "'The minute you load money onto one of those cards, the crooks are notified, and they instantly drain it, sometimes even before you leave the store,' said Amy Nofziger, director of fraud victim support at the AARP Fraud Watch Network."

    Well that's comforting. How is it so easy to do?
  • Observant1
    "The most common way thieves drain money from gift cards is by shoplifting them from supermarkets
    and other retailers and then manipulating the package to steal the card information.
    The compromised cards are then placed back in stores, and the stolen information
    is added to a computer program that tracks the cards to see when they are activated."
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