I heard this on the radio a week or so ago — the Ed Norris Show — and meant to write about it, but kept forgetting.
There’s a scam going on with gift cards. Here’s how it works: perp goes to store and peruses the gift-card section. Perp writes down the number of the gift card, but leaves it on the display rack. Customer buys the gift-card, which is then activated. Knowing that at this time of year, most gift-cards will be for Chunukah and Christmas presents, punk waits a few weeks after copying down gift-card numbers before going to the retailer’s online website and using the fraudulently obtained gift card. Then, when the actual recipient of the gift-card tries to use it, “Oh, I’m sorry – there’s no balance on this card!”
I don’t get why Ed Norris and his lowly sidekick Maynard couldn’t figure this out, they were both on the air saying “I don’t get it.” Meanwhile, I’ll be buying all my gift-cards from behind the counter this year.
(This lovely holiday warning brought to you by your favorite neighborhood Snay).
Norris is an idiot, and Maynard is not much better. God, I remember when Ed was all set to blast my blog, but didn’t. I emailed him to ask why he didn’t, and Maynard was all incoherent and snippy telling to call a deep-sea fisherman, not the police if I was in trouble. I think he got flustered because my blog entry was heavily footnoted and that I responded to his remark by informing him I stopped calling city police a long time ago because they are completely useless.
Comment by Hoodlum — November 28, 2006 @ 10:50 am
Thanks for the tip. That’s actually a clever scam. Maybe I’ll just ask for and give cash this year, wouldn’t that be easier?
Comment by Danielle — November 28, 2006 @ 11:13 am
That’s why B&N has those nifty ones that you have to scratch off to reveal the number. If only everyone were like them…
Comment by S* — November 28, 2006 @ 11:37 am
Actually, you’re my second favorite neighborhood Snay. I’m just sayin’.
Comment by anoymouscoworker — November 28, 2006 @ 12:33 pm
I don’t live in your neighborhood!
Wait, you know another Snay? SPILL!
Comment by MSnay — November 28, 2006 @ 12:36 pm
Good point S*, and make sure you check the back of the card for tampering (take it off the cardboard back) before purchase.
Comment by danielle — November 28, 2006 @ 1:06 pm
I have to admit that’s a pretty clever scam, as much as it would piss me off to happen to me.
Comment by Becky — November 28, 2006 @ 2:22 pm
I would say that that’s a clever scam, but it’s only because the scammers are taking advantage of the stores’ MASSIVE stupidity. At the place where I work, every single one of the gift cards has a PIN number that you need to physically scratch off (like for lottery tickets) in order see the code, and ultimately to complete the transaction. Therefore, it should be very obvious to the customer if the card has already been used. And if not, then it’s the customer’s fault, not the store’s.
Comment by Dan Carlson — November 28, 2006 @ 2:49 pm
Yeah, most gift cards have the scratch-off part over the numbers, to avoid things like this from happening. If that’s been scratched off and someone’s bought it – that’s they’re own fault for not checking it.
Comment by bekah — November 29, 2006 @ 4:51 pm