new scam

When you think it cant get any worse. The AG put this in paper today. Some gift cards are a scam. They are charging user fees for them. The AG is advising people to choose with care the type of gift card you buy and know the terms. People are getting ripped off again. KYSIDE38

They are also saying to purchase your gift cards from behind the customer service desks. Because thieves are jotting down the numbers on the one's at the check out lines and then going online to stores to see if they are activated, and once they are they are spending the money on them before the receipiant receives it and uses it. That is just sick.

And I always thought the $2/mo service charge after 12 months was bogus.

That is pretty sick about the thieves writing down the card #s. Don't they usually have those PIN #s where you need to scratch off the grey stuff in order to see it? I would think as long as the PIN wasn't visible you would be safe...

Debtcruncher I think they are going online. Thats how they dont use pin number.

You would think so. But the news here did a story the other day warning the public about this scam. I guess if they were professionals/hackers, anything is possible. I won't get them now unless they are from behind the customer service desk.

Oh... I never used a gift card online, just assumed you would need to put the PIN in. They should lock those things up if it's so easy to use them.

One day everything will be done by fingerprints. When you buy a gift card, it will be registered to you. And then when you give it to someone, you can associate it with their fingerprint so only they can use it.

But then I guess the thieves would just cut off your thumb.

Ack! Debtcruncher, what a thought! But I certainly see the idea behind it...

I'm telling you, Jewel already has the thumbprint scanners at the register, you can pay just by putting your thumb on the little reader.

It's only a matter of time before banks start putting thumb scanners on ATM machines. From there, who knows?

Aren't there systems out there that measure the color of your eyes and the shape of your iris for identification also

I haven't bought a gift card in a while that charges the monthly fees...Usually they expire after a couple of years, but I usually get over-excited and go shopping asap when I get them.

Steelers--I saw that report as well....

I guess check the back of the card and make sure that code is not scratched off before you buy it...