That is a fact. Most scams are done this way. The crooks are organized and connected, and they can drain those cards in an instant. Not only do they do it by "selling" the cards at a discount price (which nets them cash money), but they do the copying of the numbers while still hanging in the display, and have set up autodialers to continuously check the balances of the cards until they get a "hit" when one has been purchased. This is why many merchants have removed the convenience of phone-in balance checks, and make you bring the card to a store instead.
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Shouldn't HD disallow scanning a photo-copy of a gift-card at the checkout?Ok, I happen to have a Home Depot right in the basement of my office building (a DEADLY thing for my wallet), so I thought I was losing it, and had to go and check.
I was right - while *some* gift cards have this small scratch-off area (not sure what it conceals), MOST cards I saw on the stand there have NO PIN. Just the barcode. And if you are using auto-checkout, all you have to do is scan it. Means if you photocopy the card, you can scan the bar code on the copy.
Looks like the guy handed you the cards, took your cash, and immediately went to grab an expensive power tool, and pay by scanning the barcodes copied off the cards he gave you. The tool he can either keep, or sell off via CL or ebay.
Here's a funny thought: if someone tries to sell cards to you, decide on a purchase, and instead of asking the clerk to check the cards, grab that tool you wanted and BUY it using those cards. Walk out, cheerfully smile at the guy, show him your new toy, tell him the cards sure worked, and here's his 80%. I bet his expression will be priceless.
P.S. You people now owe me $25.
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
- AristotleComment
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Ok, I happen to have a Home Depot right in the basement of my office building (a DEADLY thing for my wallet), so I thought I was losing it, and had to go and check.
I was right - while *some* gift cards have this small scratch-off area (not sure what it conceals), MOST cards I saw on the stand there have NO PIN. Just the barcode. And if you are using auto-checkout, all you have to do is scan it. Means if you photocopy the card, you can scan the bar code on the copy.
Looks like the guy handed you the cards, took your cash, and immediately went to grab an expensive power tool, and pay by scanning the barcodes copied off the cards he gave you. The tool he can either keep, or sell off via CL or ebay.
Here's a funny thought: if someone tries to sell cards to you, decide on a purchase, and instead of asking the clerk to check the cards, grab that tool you wanted and BUY it using those cards. Walk out, cheerfully smile at the guy, show him your new toy, tell him the cards sure worked, and here's his 80%. I bet his expression will be priceless.
P.S. You people now owe me $25.
Thats what I should have done. I should have bought a gift card for example using his cards before paying him off. Too late now!Comment
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By the way, I don't want to live close to HD and WW stores! I've HD, Ace, ,PARR lumber, Lowes, Rockler, Woodcraft, Western tool supply, Woodcrafters and few other local lumber stores within 2 to 10 miles range. I literally go to one store or other every day! When I look at credit card and bank statements, I see transactions almost for everyday!!! Yesterday, someone at Rockler asked me whether I live close by!!Comment
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I think it sounds like it's a combo of these two on how it was done.
1. Buy items
2. Return for gift card (in store credit card).
3. Sell card to unsuspecting person.
4. Go to store say you lost card, but have the receipt. (you get a new receipt when you return the item).
5. They give you a new in store credit card, and zero out old card balance.
6. Repeat
The reason you saw him in there was to zero out the balances and get a new card(s) for the next soon to be poorer person.
What might have worked is you pay him off, walk into the store and have the cards rolled into 1 new card (need a new card for a gift for your father, or something). Then you would have had the money on a new card, the old cards would have been zeroed out, and pitched. It would have been hard for him to beat you to it.Ric
Plan for the worst, hope for the best!Comment
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I know someone who was a manager at Macy's, and she said that people would use their phones to photograph the backs of gift cards before they're even purchased. Then someone buys the card and loads it up. They just check the balance on the can over the phone. Once it has money on it, they use the card's info for online purchases.Comment
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online at http://www.theFrankes.com
while ( !( succeed = try() ) ) ;
"Life is short, Art long, Occasion sudden and dangerous, Experience deceitful, and Judgment difficult." -HippocratesComment
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If you really want to have fun with it, then while you are checking the price on the cards, have it all moved to 1 card. Walk back out and give him the money AND the old cards. Tell him you moved everything to a new card in case he wanted to keep the old ones for sentimental reasons.
Ric
Plan for the worst, hope for the best!Comment
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Well, you never know who is crook and who is not... unless if there were red flags and you noticed them. Around the same time I purchased these cards I responded to another CL posting. When I spoke with this guy, he said he would give me the card for almost 50% off and he said if I promise that I will buy his cards he will not take any other offers. Besides he talked too much. I didn'tIf you really want to have fun with it, then while you are checking the price on the cards, have it all moved to 1 card. Walk back out and give him the money AND the old cards. Tell him you moved everything to a new card in case he wanted to keep the old ones for sentimental reasons.
buy from him because it sounded too good to be true. But ended up losing money to another crook.!!Comment
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Ummmmm. Hmmmmm. I am NOT trying to point any fingers or anything like that, so please don't take this the wrong way, but weren't you trying to sell Home Depot and Circuit City cards here on BT3 last week? Was your plan to buy HD cards at 80% of face from CL and then try to trade them out for Amazon gift cards? That seems like an aweful lot of work and trust to try to save 20% off a gift card.Comment
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That's cool and you certainly don't owe me an explaination however you can probably see why you didnt get a lot of response to the post selling the cards.
As most of you know I am all about saving money and deals, but I would enter into any transaction involving the purchase of cash equivalents in electronic form, ie gift certificate codes, gift cards from stores, stored value cards, pre-paid service cards, etc very, very, very carefully.
Just to let you know there is limited coverage availible under most homeowners/renters policy for these types of theft. There is usually a policy limit of $250 , $500 or $1000.Comment
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Lets say you did what I suggested, AND you plan on buying the cards.
If the guy is honest, the deal true, then you still have all the credit rolled on 1 card. You probably could split it later, never tried, never had a reason. I do know that you can combine them onto 1 card, have done it many of times (mostly gift cards).
If the guy is a crook, then you beat him at his own game. You ended up with 1 card with credit on it for what you purchased. What is he going to do about it complain to the cops?!!!
Either way you come out like you meant to this time. You probably will not know if the guys was honest or crooked other than the expression on his face, and the way he acts.Ric
Plan for the worst, hope for the best!Comment
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Heard from the officer who has been assigned to this case. They are going after him and I was told that they would call me anytime to identify him. Lets see what happens...Comment
Honestly! If I had experience in buying gift cards from CL, I would have been careful!
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