How to Avoid a Gift Card Scam Known as “Card Draining”

Did you know that you can become a victim of gift card fraud even if you never even speak to a scammer?
ProPublica found that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has launched a task force to combat a scheme known as “card draining,” in which thieves use stolen or altered card numbers to steal money before the owner can spend it. Our national reporter Craig Silverman is here to tell you what it is and how to avoid it.
For more reporting on scams, read our investigation into how scammers have duped consumers out of more than $1 billion by exploiting Walmart’s lax security: propub.li/3Vj74Lw.
#giftcardscam #carddraining #balancetheft #scams #fraud #walmart #walmartgiftcards #moneylaundering #chineseorganizedcrime #shorts
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ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism with moral force.
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[@Qwerm]

Well at least the editor tried

[@lekiscool]

This is why I never felt comfortable selling cards that looked the slightest bit tampered with. I considered that if the person stole the numbers. As soon as I sold the card it would activate and the thief would have the money.

[@user-gm3xn9hv5w]

This is the biggest story you guys can come up with after your 10,000 Trump stories

[@SomeKidFromBritain]

So are the cards without value as the criminals removing the credit from the cards or are they intercepting my money when I redeem the card?

[@CricketsBay]

You load the card, thieves steal the money right then.

[@commonsense.1014]

​@@CricketsBay didn't know this was suck a big issue. 😂😂 I feel like it isn't

[@SomeKidFromBritain]

@@CricketsBay wouldn't they need my account details etc to do that?

[@Wranorn]

How about,... Don't buy game cards unless you're consuming them.

[@BlindmanVlad]

Even if you were to consume, there could be a moment where someone tries to enter your code and it works!