Consumers are being warned of a brand new present card ‘draining’ rip-off imported from the US, which sees criminals siphon off cash from vouchers earlier than the recipient has an opportunity to spend it.
That is Cash was alerted to the rip-off’s presence within the UK when reader Lorraine* (not her actual title) contacted us to say her household had turn into victims.
Lorraine purchased two Amazon present playing cards price a complete of £150 in her native Sainsbury’s retailer in early December.
A few weeks later, she despatched them away to her niece in one other a part of the nation as a Christmas current – one from Lorraine herself, and one to provide on behalf of her aged mom.
Confused: When the one that acquired the present card went to the Amazon web site to redeem it, she was bemused to search out the cash had already been spent (inventory picture, posed by mannequin)
However when her niece Laura* tried to spend the money on the Amazon web site in January, the cash had already gone.
She had turn into suspicious when she tried to take away the plastic card from its paper backing, and located it had been glued on – obscuring the code wanted to validate the voucher on-line.
She referred to as Amazon to ask if the cash may very well be credited to their on-line account by way of the voucher’s serial quantity, however Amazon mentioned the cash on the playing cards had already been spent in mid-December – earlier than Laura even acquired them.
It’s a part of a ruse often known as the present card draining rip-off, which was rife throughout the US round Christmas 2023.
The trick begins when thieves steal the playing cards, which are sometimes left hanging on the ends of grocery store cabinets – typically swiping tons of at one time.
They then take them away, scratch off the silver foil obscuring the validation code and replica down the numbers.
The cardboard is glued again on to the paper packaging, in order to not arouse suspicion. Alternatively, thieves should purchase silver foil stickers on-line which make the cardboard seem unused.
The playing cards are then snuck again into the store the place they had been taken from.
Reward playing cards are nugatory when they’re sitting on the cabinets, and are solely topped up with money as soon as somebody like Lorraine picks them up and takes them to the until.
Caught: The present playing cards had been glued to their packaging, in order that customers couldn’t test the codes and see that they had been defaced
Drained: It turned out that the cash pre-loaded on to the playing cards had already been spent by scammers
However as soon as they’re loaded with money, the criminals exploit the truth that there’s often a spot of days weeks and even months earlier than the voucher will likely be spent.
Armed with the validation codes, they intention to get there first – which means the confused recipient will likely be left with nothing.
They will commonly test to see if cash has been loaded, and the quantity of playing cards stolen will imply that no less than some are prone to bear fruit.
It’s not unique to Amazon vouchers, or to Sainsbury’s supermarkets, and That is Cash understands different giant retailers are being focused.
It really works notably properly round Christmas, because the fraudsters can financial institution on the truth that the recipients will not attempt to spend the cash till no less than 25 December. It could actually occur at any time of yr, nevertheless.
There are additionally prone to be individuals who nonetheless have unspent vouchers from the festive season who could not realise they’ve been drained.
An Amazon spokesman mentioned: ‘We take present card associated fraud very significantly.
‘We work carefully with our third celebration distributors to enhance how we defend clients and companies.
‘If clients have considerations a few present card, they need to return it to the place of buy.
‘We additionally encourage clients to report any suspected scams to us so we are able to hold clients secure.’
Earlier than shopping for a present card, clients ought to fastidiously test for any indicators of tampering – and ensure to maintain their receipt.
When Lorraine received in contact with That is Cash about her present playing cards, she mentioned that Amazon had already advised her it couldn’t give her a refund.
Laura had not been capable of get a refund at her native retailer, as she did not have the receipt.
Nonetheless, she had posted the defaced playing cards again to Lorraine in order that she may attempt to return them to the shop the place she purchased them in December.
In the long run, Lorraine did handle to get a refund from Sainsbury’s for the £150 worth, half in money and half in Sainsbury’s vouchers.
However she suspects that she shouldn’t be the one one to have been caught by this.
‘I discover it troublesome to consider that I’m the unluckiest particular person within the UK and managed to choose the one two playing cards that had been tampered with,’ she mentioned.
A Sainsbury’s spokesman mentioned: ‘We’ve advised the client how sorry we’re for his or her expertise and organized a full refund.
‘We’ve a spread of measures in place to forestall fraud and we’re working carefully with the Reward Card and Voucher Affiliation to have a look at what else retailers can do to assist.’
