Pinole police send warning about new gift card scam

[@christopherconcept926]

Criminals will literally do anything but work an honest job

[@mashamitchell9574]

Frfr. Stealing it, taking it home to alter it just to bring it back is a lot of effort to steal $25 here and there

[@funkychicken2119]

It’s our own fault. My work use to always push “Work smarter not harder” … to this generation, that message mean don’t work at all and just grab what you can get for free.

[@Bidenfriend]

Leave Blm ✊🏿 alone

[@joeblowjo]

​@@Bidenfriend🤣🤣🤣

[@em4001]

I mean a lot of employees are in on the scams

[@emypena]

The fact police told the entire scheme; means its already widespread and out of control.

[@neilkurzman4907]

Knowledge is power

[@MrGeorgewf]

How do they know if the card has been activated? How do they use the funds without the card?

[@neilkurzman4907]

@@MrGeorgewf You don’t need the card you just need the number. In fact, you could just take a picture of the card and send it to somebody. Or text them the numbers. They periodically check the card online to see what the balance is.

[@zed4643]

I work at target and this has been going on since last year

[@MrGeorgewf]

@@neilkurzman4907 A code should be given at purchase to a activate the card or a PIN to use the card.

[@travisbright24]

Stores just need to start putting gift cards in locked cases, it’s that simple

[@travisbright24]

@@PelonMusk their staff haven’t been the issue clearly

[@janderson947]

It’s not that it’s when they upload or supposedly ring up the card they don’t they steal it….

[@blackspiderman1887]

​@@travisbright24their staff isn't smart enough to do this

[@JeffreyMason-e3k]

Right!!!

[@KevinSmith-fw5tb]

People that say that are the ones complaining why it's locked up!

[@LindaDeOliviera]

Put the cards behind the counter

[@lchin10717]

Better yet LOCK UP THE GIFT CARDS!

[@NotLikeUs17]

This is an inside job.

[@TaurusAdventures]

I was a victim of this last year. Stopped buying gift cards.

[@tylertheobald6407]

E-Gift cards are my go to now

[@serenapalmer1220]

I was a victim last night 😢

[@angelsunlight]

Don’t buy gift cards. Just give cash to your loved ones.

[@CS-qc7np]

I say this all the time!

[@joeblowjo]

EXACTLY. GIFT CARDS ARE DUMB

[@cocolopz1]

Been doing that for years.

[@senorbusyman]

Buy digital gift cards

[@ely4935]

I always give cash to my grandsons. I always ask them “box or envelope” for Christmas and birthdays. Saves me time for shopping and them returning items that’s not their thing. Everybody happy

[@priscillaperry6975]

Cash as a gift is better than a card.

[@KevinSmith-fw5tb]

Writing a check is best! There's a chance they won't cash it or lose it, if that happens you win!

[@bstaznkid4lyfe392]

@@KevinSmith-fw5tb Check usually expire..

[@jessicafattycat6624]

Or retailers should just keep cards behind the cash registers or in locked cases. They should not leave them exposed for crime and up to the consumer to take the loss.

[@bend8353]

The employees do this too. Just give cash or buy card from the stores website

[@k.m.h7480]

Half the Walmarts have only 1 or 2 cash registers open out of 10 . You can’t even trust buying it from Walmart online the same thevin employees only go get the card . This is crazy .

[@MrsBurns-xy7np]

How is it not the stores responsibility to sell you cards that haven't been tampered with? Why does it always fall on the consumer?

[@thlightest9827]

Because the store doesn’t sell scam giftcards. Scammers are scamming you. Very similar to when all these people robbing and looting stores, the companies will see the loss and reflect that on buyers by marking up prices. Don’t blame the store but blame the people committing the crime. Stricter punishments and closer monitoring is needed to stop this.

[@whocares397]

greed why else why pay for somthing you can make some 1 else pay for

[@cjamesfox]

@@thlightest9827 What if someone was poisoning food items in their store. Or a supplier was poisoning food and distributing to the store. But the store, instead of changing their supplier or adding security, keeps selling the poisoned food... That store would be in big trouble. There is still some responsibility to the store.

[@TheDjMadScientist]

@@thlightest9827 Here's the thing, this has been going on for at least a decade now. All the stores gotta do is put these behind a counter and this goes away overnight. Literally. If the thief can't get initial access, they are boned, done. It's really that simple of a solution, but stores don't want to do that.

[@JAM661]

​@@thlightest9827No they are selling card that are compromised, thus no good and they are certainly not doing anything to avoid it. For example all they would have to do is lock up the cards. They can use display cards for people to see what gift cards they have. The real cards should be locked up. Since you have to go to customer service to activate the card anyway so why not just sell the card at customer service or at the teller hold them at her cash drawer. The cards instead are out in the open where anybody and everybody can mess with them. It is up to the store to maintain security and ensure the product they sell have not been tampered with in their store. If someone tamper products and the store did nothing about after someone complain and then other people got sick they could be in big trouble. Well these store very well know this is going on and doing nothing because they are not being held accountable. Meanwhile if you want to give someone money to buy something, then give them a check and then they can spend the money on what they want.

[@lisaserio4718]

You would think that someone with this kind of intelligence WOULD HAVE A DAMN JOB! Not scamming innocent people.

[@noseboop4354]

Remember the school bully? Yeah some people get their jollies off scamming people.

[@greenqueen2673]

The scam is the job.

[@eddyvideostar]

Dear Lisa 4718: A job could be a ... man lifting and loading boxes. A job could be a slick, savvy, scammer. A job could be a slimy KZbinr skimming your time by showing their butts at the beach. Which of these is the most honorable?

[@irrelevant2235]

What a shitty world we live in where people actually do these scams!

[@debbieschultz9768]

I despise scammers!!!!!!

[@mike112079]

People do a lot worse stuff than this man!! Yes, crappy for sure!

[@manborg84]

😂 well glad you finally start to see the real world

[@grumpyoldlady_rants]

I’m so sick of these scammers!! If they are smart enough to think up and pull off these scams then they are smart enough to work an honest job!!

[@drwisdom1]

Before this scam can take advantage of you, you have to first want to abuse you friends and family with gift cards. It amazes me how people have been tricked into converting real money to expiring fake money. Gift cards are a gullibility scam.

[@grumpyoldlady_rants]

@@drwisdom1 Gift cards, at least the brands I buy, don’t expire. Personally, I like getting a gift card - then I can buy what I want.

[@drwisdom1]

@@grumpyoldlady_rants Stores always go out of business, the United States doesn't. You can't buy what you want with gift cards, it is limited where you can use them. Whereas cash is universally accepted and you can use it to buy whatever you want. Try and buy some gas with a Cheesecake Factory gift card. Gift cards are an obvious scam that takes advantage of people who don't understand how money works.

[@Bill-e5t]

A honest job that pays shit? I don't blame them🤣

[@Destroyer-Grizzly-BIH]

They’re doing everything but getting a damn job.

[@geemcgraff8281]

Most scammers have jobs

[@KevinSmith-fw5tb]

@@geemcgraff8281 Scamming takes time and effort just like a job! So it is a job!

[@LatchKeyKid_78]

They have a job ding dong. Right at the stores where these scams are taking place. It’s called an INSIDE JOB

[@somebodyoncetoldme8317]

Jobs don’t pay enough. What they are doing isn’t right but I at least respect the hustle.

[@hafsahnasser4134]

Yup, Walmart is where this happened to me and something fishy about how they react to this problem. Also even one of the employee said she thinks it’s an inside job, it has to be one big organized crime.

[@jesto3740]

I was actually scammed at issuer of the gift card. Host at a restaurant directed me to the bar (that should have been an immediate flag). It was one of those buy $50, get $10 free. I bought 2 $25 cards. Bar tender gave me the cards, purchase and gift receipts. She specifically pointed out the $10 card which I placed in a different pocket. Went home to place gift cards in Xmas envelopes when I noticed gift receipt for $25 didn't match. It matched the one I put my other pocket. I thought easy mistake. A few weeks later, I went to restaurant to use $10 gift card, and there was no money on the card. I showed my receipts to manager. He fixed it. Bar tender had given herself a $10 tip from that card, and she was going to have me give the empty card to my friend 😡

[@jonnyfendi2003]

Wuz she blak??

[@marih3286]

I've had this happen at Walmart at the "Customer Service" desk. I returned a $40 item. Instead of waiting for it to go back on my credit card, I opted for store card. When I went back the next week and tried to use it, it was empty. I showed them my return receipt plus the gift card receipt. They didn't credit me because none of them seemed to know what to do...

[@just2bless09]

​@@jonnyfendi2003What an ignorant question, thieves comes in all races!!!!

[@derekbrousard9287]

​@@just2bless09Why waste your time responding to a racist ass coward who make racist comments behind the keyboard and definitely not in a black persons presence because he or she knows the consequences of their actions. Coward!

[@azeleapark]

​@@just2bless09... It's best not even to respond to a mentally handicapped troll.

[@devonteforeman]

Just lock up the gift cards so they can't be manipulated.

[@debbiecurtis6748]

This scam is not new... i knew about this scam at least 7 years ago when I worked as a cashier at a major grocery store in the Midwest. I would go out of my way to warn my customers about this scam! And I would go out of my way to alert store security if I noticed a person spending too much time around the gift cards or if they grabbed a handful of cards and walked away with them!!! It's really sad when a person chooses stealing in lieu of a full time job.

[@utube4greenfuture]

The 7 yrs of people who got scammed are disappointed you dropped the ball.

[@brendawilder9018]

Thank you for being so nice and looking out for the customers.

[@tracamazon]

Time to lock those up too! Unfortunately.

[@jaywholoveseveryone1721]

Moral of the story...DO NOT BUY GIFT CARDS! I saw a guy doing this in Walmart years ago. He would take the whole rack and scan the cards somehow and then return them to the shelf.

[@chelseagriffin3148]

I agree now! I got 3 GC recently only used them 1 or 2x everytime I got to check the balance the card card says 0 when i didn't use it in full. Basically the cards got hacked so Im disuputing the charges smh

[@coffeelink943]

That’s why I buy virtual gift cards E-Mail delivery on Amazon and had no problems with it

[@tbsmith-ht6ej]

That must have taken some time to do inside the store. See something, say something. Maybe take out your phone and record the crime without attracting attention to yourself.

[@jaywholoveseveryone1721]

@@tbsmith-ht6ej I didn't know what he was doing at first. I did alert customer service but the girl said that "there was nothing wrong with someone grabbing a whole bunch of cards" We just couldn't figure out WHY he was doing it until much much later.

[@personallao]

Back to the good old days… cold hard cash in the envelope. 😅

[@lusterdog9694]

If you're going to do that, DO NOT use a holiday sized card inside a colorful holiday envelope There are thieves along the postal logistics chain who know those envelopes probly have cash or giftcards. They dont make letter sized greeting cards so theres no other option other than you personally writing a letter, tapping the cash or card down and putting it in a regular white envelope. Its not as as holiday-ish as sending a colorful envelope but with the rise in crime what can you do other than email someone a giftcard code. The good ol' days are long gone.

[@azeleapark]

*CASH is KING!!!*

[@sherryburton7644]

I’m sorry but mail is being stolen too

[@_armoredglasscannon2520]

I think it is best to send those cash in person instead in a gift wrapper and open it in front of you

[@k.m.h7480]

I don’t even buy gift cards anymore especially from Walmart . The employees are in on it at those Walmarts and CVS stores . It’s terrible better to just give cash I guess

[@DP-ml8uw]

Yeah and Walmart customer service is horrible. I purchased gift cards from them that got stolen/lost in transit (confirmed via fedex tracking) and they just said too bad. Once it’s shipped it’s out of there hands.

[@hafsahnasser4134]

Yeah, happened to me at Walmart it’s been going on for years and they don’t care to hear about it or care to resolve it because it’s an inside job. It’s obvious

[@NJPAS]

This never happens in the US 10 years ago...nowadays sucks! I wonder why?

[@charlenemocksing6909]

The things that people to do to others especially before Xmas. Heartless.

[@adamhuffman3354]

Very clever! Criminals spend so much time trying to get money. They can make money by being employed!

[@rybfish76]

Yeh, bankers are the worst!

[@morningbear3794]

yeah except are you gonna hire the hard working hwite boy with a great resume or the black thug with a record and terrible resume that is trying to make his life better. these thugs get rejected so much by our society that they justify the theft in there minds because of the conidtions and challenges that they are forces to endure lets bring better opprotunitys to the hood lets educate these thugs instead of lock up there dads

[@39FORTYWATER]

Thank you. That takes time. It's one of those things that makes you wonder. Why Why

[@LatchKeyKid_78]

They are employed ding dong. It’s the employees doing these GC scams INSIDE JOB!!!

[@gigis.6813]

Happened to me with Vanilla Visa gift card. The card company asked for private information before they would address the problem, and even then, they didn't guarantee they could give a refund. It's BS, I didn't want to provide my personal info.

[@nz6241]

Fuck it, i'm not even purchasing gift cards anymore.

[@supportmytroups7]

Oh the irony , telling thieves exactly how it’s done while trying to prevent it from happening more

[@LygerTheCLaw]

i agree, it's sad that when times are the worst, the worst in bad people come out. thank joe for all this.

[@e-4051]

@@LygerTheCLawobsessed much?

[@jbiehl8478]

@@e-4051 The stupidity that crimes never happened under past administrations. Trump does attract the uneducated

[@johnwhodat8135]

​@@jbiehl8478..and educated voted for Biden.😂. At least the uneducated have common sense.

[@KimberlyLetsGo]

LOL Nothing like coming to KZbin to learn stuff!!!

[@PharmTech_TN]

Happened to me at Target. Bought a target gift card for my friends birthday. She wanted to use it but 0$ balance. Luckily I still had the receipt and they resolved the issue. I live in the west coast and the scammer was in the east coast. They don't even have to be physically there to alter the cards.

[@3rdFloorDownStudios]

How about we just start giving people cash again.

[@kenbob1071]

We already are. It just happens to be the criminals that are getting the cash.

[@beargillium2369]

The REAL scam is that companies don't pay taxes on gift card purchases until the card is spent, although the company receives 100% of the money. If the card is lost or damaged/if there's a small remaining balance etc, the company just keeps the profit tax free. 😮

[@FRANCISPOLLARD-r3p]

What taxes? Income Taxes, or Sales Taxes?

[@beargillium2369]

@@FRANCISPOLLARD-r3p income, the consumer pays sales tax. Pretty crazy right?

[@KlassiclyRevampT]

Sales tax is still applied and paid when gift cards are purchased.

[@patriot6285]

@@KlassiclyRevampT No sales taxes are NOT paid when gift cards are purchased.

[@shanen457]

The real scam is that people have to pay taxes against their will! Your freedoms have been stolen!

[@deathshade777]

The stores managers allowing this should be charged.

[@ColleenDonahue-b5p]

Stores are not supposed to accept returns on gift cards if they are then it's an inside job

[@monikasturm2575]

We just had a church scammed out of almost $1000 in Walmart gift cards that didn't even have the correct card numbers of the cards scanned on the activation receipts given to the customer. Looks like some Walmart employee that can access the POS System and inventory is ripping customers off. Tsk tsk tsk Tis the season to be greedy. 😢

[@Your_Favorite_Season]

Still don't understand how they're taking the money

[@hollylaureano2860]

DO NOT BUY GIFT CARDS ANYWHERE!

[@shannondacorsi1156]

This isn't new at all. This has been going on for a long time. I knew people doing this over 10 years ago🤦🏽‍♀️.

[@mashamitchell9574]

Get gift cards directly from the bank or send a digital gift card or give cash. So many options.

[@jonnyfendi2003]

Chase bank be like “we gonna close your bank account just cause”

[@Burnlit1337]

This happened to my sister's gifts last Christmas, where she bought a bunch of gift cards from Target for us. It was only at our new year vacation when we found out that there was nothing in the gift cards. In this case, my sister's cards were monitored by bots and as soon as it was filled, the criminals stole all of its balance.

[@drwisdom1]

Did you learn you should never buy gift cards from that experience, or will you make the same mistake again?

[@BrandonBaecker]

​@@inthesun3884there are a number of ways, but the most common is to sell the gift cards on the black market for like 50% off. They don't lose money cause they didn't pay for them in the first place.

[@LiLgPnoy15]

These criminals spend so much time and effort doing these things, when really they should just focus on getting a real job.

[@kenbob1071]

Yeah, like Donald Trump where you can steal millions on the job... although I'm not sure what he does qualifies as a real job.

[@Abcdefghijk920]

Stores should keep gift cards behind counter.

[@lkd06]

Something else the store will have to lock inside a cabinet, and no returns allowed

[@smoothoperator1083]

Man crime is horrific in our country. Horrific!! WOW! JUST WOW!!!!

[@ronf.2029]

Thank your Newsom and Biden.

[@Jnthncrrll]

OH YOU SHUT UP, TRUMPSTER FREAK!!!!!

[@Jnthncrrll]

@@ronf.2029 OH YOU SHUT UP, RON THE TRUMPSTER FREAK!!!!!

[@themartdog]

I'm surprised gift cards are still legal. Seems like an easy thing to regulate that would instantly kill a huge amount of scams.

[@dexterwestin3747]

That is crazy - it would be like saying that the store shouldn't sell matches because it could lead to arson.

[@themartdog]

@@dexterwestin3747 not really.. gift cards are already scammy in the first place. It's a free loan you give to a company that a lot of times never get used. The amount they are abused both by the companies themselves and by scammers is enough

[@Angultra]

No need to be that drastic, better to have staff trained if someone buys $500 cards in bulk, especially seniors. And keep them behind the counter to prevent these barcode scams.

[@themartdog]

@@Angultra they do that already and yet it still works for scammers

[@brejaimecastillo8851]

Sounds like "Cash Is King" for the holidays. Technology and the IRS are taking us back to the 90s

[@teyojin14]

Just need to get rid of gift cards all together

[@mcwolf4255]

It’s time to make a gift cards kiosk, the card is secured, not tampered and guarded.

[@mariavelasquez5857]

Happened to me before! Stores need to have them behind the counter and you just tell them which one you want!

[@KimsLantern]

Absolute scumbags. They’ll do anything, won’t they?

[@grandmemaw3605]

Why doesn’t the store check the cards when they’re returned. Our country is overrun with criminals. Stricter consequences are needed

[@kenbob1071]

Dude, the cards are not returned to the Returns/Exchanges dept. of the store. The thief steals them, alters them, then secretly returns them to the same shelf he took them from.

[@SJH22]

If criminals put half of the effort into finding a real job that they do trying to screw people over, they would be wealthy.

[@kenbob1071]

Yes. Don Trump is a prime example of a criminal getting a real job to screw people over and make millions.

[@RaceAgnstTme]

You don’t ask to inspect “AFTER” purchasing. They’re non refundable. Inspect before purchasing. If you’re buying it, we customers should see the quality of the product.

[@stephaniecannon410]

Thanks for sharing. 😮

[@nancythanyaratka]

It’s better to buy e-gift cards now and print it out if you want a tangible gift card so you don’t expose yourself to these risks.

[@MrGeorgewf]

How do I buy one?

[@tjones261]

Gift cards themselves are just a scam. It's better to give CASH than to lock your "gift" to a store your giftee may NEVER use.

[@hrufhduehveugrhhty2024]

Gift card company should put vending machine for security reason. Trust on employees is sometimes slippery slopes.

[@NigelM18]

Interesting, but how do they get activated? Are they all activated sitting in the machine already? If so, thieves will just break the glass and take them all.

[@Yourfairweatherfriend]

@@NigelM18 It will work, if you have to pay for possibly a activation slip to put into the vending machine to receive the gift card. I thought that a gift card vending machine was a great idea as well. I think companies should look into it it’s really fail proof.

[@ShutoStriker]

Make sure you get a receipt for the gift card too. Had an issue over 10 years ago with one I gave to my parents and there was no money on it, but the receipt made it all right. Don't know if the Walmart cashier messed up or intentionally tried to dupe me.

[@sgraham4533]

The 3 digit security number was scratched off on mine. Card was worth $500 that i haven’t been able to use and visa and safeway is dragging their legs on reimbursement.

[@chorlesteajones6794]

I work for a company that goes around to Dollar Generals to do shelf resets and recently they have removed and replaced a bunch of Gift Cards that use the cardboard packaging and put in new cards that are one solid card so that you can tell if it's been tampered with in this way as obviously they can't cut them anymore. I think it's a wise move by ALL gift card companies to do this.

[@BeeRumblin13]

How bout a security camera on the gift card section. I'm sure these people look like outstanding citizens

[@o7juan]

The fact that you can return gift cards is bizarre lol. Why is that even a thing

[@mageedays]

I'd rather give cash than gift cards 😂

[@ChristineRobinette-ue2mj]

Open it up after you purchase it. What? They going to give you your money back?. I thought you couldn't return stuff like that

[@justinenicole3926]

If you open in front of them and part of the gift card is missing they'll do something about that.

[@ChristineRobinette-ue2mj]

@@justinenicole3926 . Not true. I now have a friend fighting this

[@trdjody]

😂 most stores have zero return policy with gift cards. Also… I saw a kid taking them other day at a Walmart 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@lionentertainment7240]

WHY WOULD YOU OPEN IT AFTER YOU BUY IT AS YOU SAID!! YOU CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY AND PUY NONEY ON IT!!

[@strawberryhun]

Thank you

[@InsiderBoy]

Just give cash. Gift Cards are the dumbest gifts ever and they pollute.

[@mikemiller659]

They ARE

[@seadragon1456]

Digital cards are nice tho.

[@ASD-DAD]

If only scammers used their brains to do good things.

[@itistime5699]

Isn’t it easier just to give cash instead? I never understood why people buy these gift cards

[@katherinelangford981]

Cash is king! My niece I'm sure would like some crisp bills vs a card anyway.

[@martina5296]

That makes no sense. If they criminals cut the cards why would anyone activate it? That video and reporters "explanation" were helpful. Why not just play the police officers explanation. The reporter did a lousy job explaining. Anyway, I heard that the criminals take the cars home and write down the access code (don't know how they can get the access code when it needs to be scratched off.) so they know when the card is either activated or money has been loaded, I guess for debit like cards, however the reporters never go in depth to warn consumers. I'm always perplexed that criminals are always a few steps in front of when it comes to monetary crimes. They are obviously using their brain more and getting dangerously creative. So the UPC code can be used as well as the number that needs to be scratched off?

[@terry_willis]

Computer scammers from India work their scam by telling the guy to go to Target and buy $5000 of gift cards, then give the numbers to the scammers to reimburese the Indians for an "over payment" or "over refund". The scam generally works best with senior citizens. This needs to be controlled better.

[@trevorjensen2706]

My God, the cowards put so much effort into trying to deceive others to get money. Imagine if they spent as much time and effort into finding a job.

[@Tinea2426]

Don't buy gift cards anymore!

[@UrbanSipfly]

Laws have to be passed by lawmakers that either eliminate the manufacturing of gift cards or improve ways of making gift cards tamper proof with new available technologies! As far as purchasing gift cards myself for any reason, it's now become out of the question... It would be better to carry cash hanging out of one's pockets with glaring neon signs that read: PLEASE ROB ME NO QUESTIONS ASKED!

[@kendi1417]

Also, use the entire balance immediately after activating the card.

[@royalkingdomcommando6379]

Good to know. Thanks.

[@bernaclischurchill4463]

They will not let you view the card before hand, nor will they allow you to return the card if something is wrong. So how do the crooks return the cards and how are they being resold and altered, without the stores prior knowledge and assistance with this crime.

[@BrandonBaecker]

Just get digital cards and give them a Christmas card and write the details in it. Nothing is full proof, but it's much safer than buying physical cards from stores these days. People suck.

[@tech4life884]

Inspect the card after you've already purchased it and gave your money to the scammers?. Yea, that doesn't make sense. Always indoect the card and envelope BEFORE you add money onto the card. BEFORE!

[@karengreen5473]

Too much work. Just donot give gift cards! Avoid the hassel

[@jonathanbrown1120]

5 months ago? CvS knew about this over a year ago, not only that Police caught the people doing it, it was a group of Chinese immigrants here on visas. The NY police let them go! may be a different group now but probably not

[@peterherrera7566]

Wondered how long it would take to make gift cards an easy scam. Cash is king.

[@KevinSmith-fw5tb]

I write checks! There's a chance they won't cash it or lose it, if that happens I lose nothing!

[@Thunder-Raw-am]

This has been going on for a while! Especially at Target 🎯. One group walks out with the gift cards, another separate group enters store and re- hangs gift card on pegs. Customers then purchase the tampered gift card thinking the cash is loaded to the card, but nope, a fraudulent bar code is replaced and that cash is going to unknown bank accounts, possible outside of U.S.. Retail treats cards like cash in respect to property so once you leave store with it, its all on you not them! And Retail is not doing anything about it because they made their money in advance. And its getting difficult to identify if the package has been tampered with. Cards should be sold from behind counter only, and inside locking cases to help eliminate folks walking out with them before they get scanned for actual legit purchases. Customers should demand retail stores take more responsibility for sales with these cards only behind Guest services desk or inside of individual locked cases. Thousands-Millions are being ripped off. Crazy its just now making the news. 💯. Its Organized retail electriconic theft. At your own risk, buyer beware.

[@vegasranger]

Imagine if these crooks use their minds to do good things.

[@jujubees711]

These thieves always find a way to get around retailers... imaging using your ingenuity to help others.

[@manborg84]

This has been going on for years. Come guys! Keep up to date, damn

[@k.m.h7480]

It has at least since the late 90s . Churches always get scammed cause they buy gift cards for the needy in bulk

[@ColleenDonahue-b5p]

If a store is accepting returns on gift cards then it must be an inside job. The gift cards are not supposed to be returnable at stores

[@thatgirlPAIGE94]

So messed up 🙁😕

[@NigelM18]

So let me get this straight, I have to go buy gift cards for scammers to pay my tax bill so I dont get arrested, only to be scammed by scammers who already found a way to live here who physically alter the cards?? 😅😅😅

[@CANARYHP]

There needs to be a better process to packaging gift cards

[@WolfGangFX]

Thank you for the lesson, I’ll get started now.

[@alexachenbach821]

Thank for sharing 😊

[@KuostA]

wait, why do they bother returning it? why not just steal it and use it. I'm confused at that point.

[@bigguy5840]

If you get it at CVS forget about it they won’t refund it that happened to me and I was out of 100 bucks. Cvs says it’s not their problem.

[@ThomasOsaki]

it's no longer a gift card if criminals get your balance. should call it charity cards.

[@marih3286]

How are they getting the "peel-off" stickers? Someone or some print shop has to be producing them. Maybe with further investigation you can find the source and turn them in...

[@mega408]

I was a victim. Lost $10 for a few weeks until I disputed the transaction with my cc.

[@theouroboros7470]

They just scratch off the number reseal and put it back.

[@Variety1985]

Try giving a GIFT CERTIFICATE to a LOCAL store or restaurant 😊

[@joeblowjo]

SCREW GIFT CARDS. THEY'RE SUCH A DUMB IDEA. CASH IS KING

[@gardenialeeman4932]

Scary!

[@justsomeguy9555]

Cash:: no middleman, no margins, & it’s the easiest fix. Doesn’t do much for businesses you don’t need, though.