buying a gift card for someone? CAVEAT EMPTOR!!

The latest scam on gift cards goes like this...

You go to the retail store, see the gift cards hanging on a rack. You decide, good idea! You select a card, take it to the register and tell the clerk to put "x" dollars on the card. You pay, send it to the recipient and think everything is cool...maybe NOT !!

What you perhaps don't know is that a scammer has already copied down the numbers on the gift card and places them back on the rack. The scammer waits a few days, goes online with the gift card numbers and bleeds the account dry. Then, Uncle Bill who you sent the card to, tries to use the card, which now has close to a zero balance.

This of course does not happen if the gift card ID number is covered like a scratch off ticket, or if the gift card is bubble wrapped or presented in such a fashion as to make the card ID number non-viewable.

One would think the obvious solution here is to retain the cards behind the counter at the Customer Service area (assuming no employee theft), or offer the cards in such a fashion as to not display the card #.

According to snopes.com, it's all true.

Boy, how I'd love to catch some jerk doing that to the gift cards. There would probably be the world's greatest operation performed on-the-spot......

......five doctors trying to dig my size twelve foot out of that guy's @ss.

Link to snopes article:

http://www.snopes.com/fraud/sales/giftcard.asp

Appreciate the heads-up, pal.

Regards (and Merry Christmas),
drumz1

Let's see... here are the choices:

I could give cash.

Or

I could give a plastic card that represents the same amount of cash, but forces the person to spend it on a specific thing or store, even though he may have a better use for the cash. In addition, the card may expire, or be stolen, or lost, or subject to fraud so he may never be able to use the funds.

These things are dumb. Anyone who uses one or gives one deserves what they get.

Cash is so .. crass. :)

Cash can be lost .. the value of a gift card if handled properly, then lost, can be replaced.

Cash is cash .. some gift cards earn discounts or premiums when purchased or used.

You give me cash, I pay the electric bill. You give me a gift card to Star Bucks, I drink good coffee. Mas Bueno!

> These things are dumb. Anyone who uses one or gives one deserves what they get.

Dumb is a personal opinion I won't argue with. But the only one 'deserving of what they get' in this situation is the grifter. He deserves a decent ass whipping. And the one who tried to use that gift card? Only thing he deserves is to get to do the whipping.

When receive cash, you can feel as though you should spend it on something practical, like paying a bill. If you receive a gift card, it seems like you are getting free stuff, which is the intent of the giver.

Over the years, my wife and I have recieved various kinds of gift cards. We've enjoyed them all. Often, we've gotten gift cards to restaurants we would never have visited if not for the card. In just about every case, it was an enjoyable experience we wouldn't have had if we had been given cash. Just another POV.

Depends on whom you are giving to. Cash can be used to buy cigarettes and beer. (Beer isn't all bad:)