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l337quaker t1_itr6zuw wrote

Sounds like someone bought a card, got scammed by a catfish, and now is trying to claim it's someone else's doing.

Let me guess, those porn popups also "just happened" to you, and you don't know why they are there.

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sleepfordayz679 t1_itrsjbg wrote

Nah, this really happens. Got a visa gift card as a present a week or two ago, opened it up fresh out of the package and it didn't work. Went to check the balance and it had already been wiped at a Target in Irvine, CA, just the day after it was bought for me and before I even received it

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rudyattitudedee t1_itt6g70 wrote

Guess what is in Irvine? A shitload of payment processing companies that have access to these gift cards. 360incentives is one of them. Sheisters.

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l337quaker t1_itryp07 wrote

Oh damn. I've honestly never heard of this, that's pretty shitty.

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sleepfordayz679 t1_its2f9f wrote

Indeed. Sounds like MasterCard is going to hook me up but can take up to 90 days apparently

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Devtunes t1_itsfu6f wrote

Happened to me as well. One of those vanilla cards, brand new unopened. Got no help from the retailer or card company.

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Few-Afternoon-6276 t1_itsqvt8 wrote

Store clerk once told me not to buy them. Says the gal at Sams Club- they get the codes and wipe the funds once loaded- I just give cookies…. Who doesn’t want cookies??

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druebleam t1_itrk499 wrote

Good guesses.

May one also assume this person did great homework to determine it was an Asian website that wipes it clean. There’s only roughly 50 countries in Asia. And who knew there were websites that went around to commit fraud specifically at a Walmart in Hookset.

/s

0

FaustusC t1_itrtmd7 wrote

A few things:

here's a story of it happening out of Boston.

It's a very common scam on these cards for thieves to steal a bunch and save all the information. Bots can be used to check balances. As soon as it's activated, they swipe whatever balance is on it.

2: some of the GC sites allow you to see most recent access to the numbers via IP, in which case, yes, you can guarantee where the person is from.

3: y'all are both assholes.

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druebleam t1_its2qkn wrote

LOL. Next time don’t shit post unfounded racially slanted web clips.

I am appreciative of the link you just sent. In the future share an article like that, as it is more constructive and informative than a random Facebook post that is not fact checked and propagates bad information.

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bakins711 t1_itqq490 wrote

Is this a real thing or like the “watch out for drugs in Halloween candy” thing?

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bookworm21765 t1_itqxmoa wrote

No one can use the funds on the card without the pin#. If the pin is scratched off do not buy the card.

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Iamjacksgoldlungs t1_itr0yfg wrote

You can buy scratch off stickers on Amazon. OP stated it was covered up

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trahloc t1_itrmjka wrote

If it's covered up by a sticker vs the scratch off material that'd be an indication it's been uncovered. They mention "cvs sticker" and every gift card I've ever used had the same material on it as a lottery scratcher. If those could be easily put back on it would destroy the entire gambling scratcher industry.

0

Iamjacksgoldlungs t1_itrt03m wrote

Lottery tickets are heavily monitored for fraud and locked up in stores. Gift cards are not.

The scratch off on a ticket isn't a sticker like it is with cards either

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trahloc t1_itryk0g wrote

Huh that must be a change then to save costs. It's been a fair minute since I sold them so they must have changed in the last decade or two.

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Cash_Visible t1_itrpc0m wrote

I will say on some gift cards I've bought before the scratch off material is on a piece of plastic? or some material unlike actual scratch tickets. I have definitely pulled off the scratch portion on gift cards before. Sometimes I've tried to see if I can get it off without having to find a penny. However, if I recall I don't think you can even access the scratch off portion without tampering with the paper holder the card is in? but I forget.

Regardless I think one should see some signs of tampering if the scratch off was removed in some fashion.

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Devtunes t1_itsgqju wrote

It happened to me, vanilla gift card. Unopened, original packaging intact, drained of funds. I have no idea how they could do it but someone figured it out.

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northursalia t1_itr24af wrote

Only buy the cards where the entire cardboard back panel of the card holder has to be removed to be scanned for purchase, as even the PIN area is covered on them. I generally find that kind of card at the displays of gift cards in Home Depot. That, or you can buy the gift cards online directly from banks.

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Devtunes t1_itsgh4a wrote

Don't trust them, I got one brand new, unopened, untampered and it was drained.

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Freshman44 t1_itt0ihs wrote

Pastor says to bring prepaidcards to church. service Sundays fo r the church or we will.go to hell. Gloria from knittin group. Said it happend to. Her neice

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ecounltd t1_ituhv2y wrote

This looks like a bot wrote this after being trained on elderly Facebook comments. You hit the nail on the head.

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Goodbye11035Karma t1_itrj8dc wrote

Thanks for the tip, OP. Last year a few of those showed up around NH. I ended up giving cold, hard cash for Xmas last year. Saved me $6 a card, so win-win, and I used the $6 to actually buy a Hallmark card.

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Reubachi t1_itv3pah wrote

You paid a fee to load a pre-paid card?

That's not...illegal, but I can't think of any major big box retailer using visa/mastercard gift cards that does this?

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Goodbye11035Karma t1_itv9tsy wrote

Uhhhhh, all the cards charge a fee to purchase them. Have you ever bought one?

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Reubachi t1_itvqrpd wrote

Apparently not...or I'm crazy. I purchased a few vendor specific ones at walmart the other day, 50 each, and definitely was only charged 100 american pesos.

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archigos t1_itrzzg5 wrote

Serious question: why do people pay money to buy these things?

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Winnipesaukee t1_itu9aaw wrote

Last time I ever bought gift cards was to do the 36 month Xbox live gold to game pass ultimate upgrade discount trick.

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dansantti4321 t1_ituetz6 wrote

Tell me more about this trick and if it still works 🤔

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rudyattitudedee t1_itt6r19 wrote

First problem, going to the cesspool that is Walmart. Stop fucking buying stuff at wal mart. I literally have hundreds in wal mart gift cards from family members and refuse to step foot in one.

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OldKingsHigh t1_ittk33e wrote

>I literally have hundreds in wal mart gift cards from family members and refuse to step foot in one.

Which gives them the full value of the gift card, rather than just the profit on the items you would purchase. Assuming these were prepaid gift cards your referencing.

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[deleted] t1_itwbiwy wrote

In many cases money spend on gift cards needs to be held as unrealized funds until the gift card expires. In NH gift cards under $100 don't expire, and Walmart does not charge maintenance fees. In essence sure they have the money, but they cannot use it.

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OldKingsHigh t1_itwjkvo wrote

I don’t think either of those first two claims are true.

I’m fairly confident they can use the money and they can definitely eventually use it, and I know for a fact the threshold isn’t $100.

Even if I’m wrong and you’re right, Walmart is still better off now than before the cards were purchased and kept.

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rudyattitudedee t1_itulaq4 wrote

Yes. I am gifted These cards from family members, who have the memory of a gold fish and as much creativity too so instead of getting a thoughtful gift I get wal mart gift cards I’ve never used and no real gifts lol. If they want to give money to wal mart that’s fine I just don’t go to wal mart because it’s trashy.

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ctr2sprt t1_itv2clz wrote

Why don't you simply return the gift cards, then?

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rudyattitudedee t1_itv997u wrote

I’d have to go wal mart. I gave one to my sister bc she needs help

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ctr2sprt t1_itvhvd9 wrote

You misunderstand me. I meant return them to the people who gave them to you as a gift, so they can redeem the cards themselves and get their money back that way.

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rudyattitudedee t1_itxmf5h wrote

Ah. Because it’s my nana and aunt and both would be offended. They’re Italian. if they ask, I make something up and say “yeah thanks I bought half a pair of pants” since $25 bucks can’t buy too much anymore.

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JessePunch t1_itv2ru9 wrote

can I have them?

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rudyattitudedee t1_itv8qfu wrote

Sure. Probably long expired or maintenance fees dwindled the $25 down to nothing lol

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otiswrath t1_itvcxu0 wrote

Gift cards under a $100 do not expire in NH. Maintenance fees are a thing though unfortunately.

https://www.unionleader.com/nh/about_nh/new-hampshires-unique-gift-certificate-law-protects-consumers/article_20565014-8844-5c28-9102-155dda7813ee.html

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rudyattitudedee t1_itxmqhl wrote

Ah. That’s cool to know. If I get a gift card I’ll put it in the wallet intending to use it but typically will forget until at least the third trip. I’m kind of just bad with money.

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lazymusings123 t1_itsu74p wrote

Husband got a $1000 (!!) Visa card from work. Went to use it and it was completely empty. Visa said there was nothing they could do 🫠 Happens alllll the time — don’t buy these things!

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Dubbsss14 t1_itshwlm wrote

Thanks for the heads up 👍🏼

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Anxious_Aide_2091 t1_itqpwrm wrote

So basically an employee is doing this? Cause how else would someone go unnoticed opening and taking pictures of all these cards?

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Iamjacksgoldlungs t1_itr17ng wrote

Customer goes in and grabs a stack and takes them to their car or home as they aren't tagged for security and can go passed scanner. Takes photos and replaced scratch off. Takes them back in and puts them back on rack in store.

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ThunderySleep t1_itr2vmm wrote

Do walmart cards work in NH?

I tried to use $100 worth from a couple of holidays and couldn't get them to work online or in the store. No one in the store was able to help or give clear answers, nor when I called to ask about them. Phone number on the cards themselves is a robo-phone-tree, with no way to speak to a human being.

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SheeEttin t1_itrg6z4 wrote

They did. Also, by law in New Hampshire, gift cards do not expire.

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ThunderySleep t1_itrglvu wrote

That's what I read.

I kind of gave up on the cards. I believe I still have them, but can't activate them online, can't use them in stores, phone number on the back of the card is a dead-end, and nobody in stores can seem to help.

All in all, I would just encourage people to avoid Walmart gift-cards. That's $100 either stolen or just lost in a broken system, which is essence stolen by the company.

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SheeEttin t1_itrhcpa wrote

I suppose you could do a chargeback if you bought them with a credit card. I'd just get something in writing from Walmart showing they're being unhelpful.

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ThunderySleep t1_itrhq44 wrote

Nah, that's the awkward part. They're christmas gifts from a non-immediate relative I don't talk to often. I don't think it's worth saying anything.

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Wildjosh OP t1_itqk1ee wrote

I just got sent this from a friend and I wanted to pass the info along. I guess this happened at the Hooksett Walmart.

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draggar t1_itqpiio wrote

This might be a way to be safe - pay for the card(s) in a separate transaction and if they're fraudulent dispute the chargers?

Sadly, it may be a while before people realize they're empty. :(

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