I got scammed. I urge you to read this cautionary tale.

I decided not to be a complete dip with my money and try to be somewhat responsible with my money. I put some money on a Visa gift card that I bought at a Pharmacy. I went to another store to make a purchase and the card was automatically declined. WTF?

This was the first store I took the newly bought card to after the pharmacy, so naturally, I was shocked and embarrassed. It makes you look bad when a gift card is declined. It kind of looks like you stole it, and the rightful owner canceled it. I apologized and mentioned I was going to call the card company to complain, as I just bought the card. The cashier nodded and I left.

I called the card number, and I was told that the pharmacy never activated the card. I already paid the activation fee and the receipt told me that I had paid the activation too. I angrily told the card company,"That shouldn't be my problem if they didn't activate it, I already put the money, plus the activation fee, I need to be able to make purchases." They told me they understood my frustration, but I still had to go back to the original pharmacy to talk to them.

I went back to the original pharmacy and complained to the manager who sold it to me. and even rang up a food item with the card and she was shocked when the card was declined since she had just literally sold it to me. She called the card company herself and confirmed that I did put money on the card. I remembered thinking that it was odd that the security code on the card was 000, and not a higher set of numbers like 345 like most security codes are. Especially since my other card that I had purchased from this same company that actually worked had a number like 705. She told me that the card company told her that the card I purchased had a fraud alert on it and the code that was on the packaging did not match the card that I had bought, and matched a completely different card. She told me that the card I had purchased had a fraud alert on it! WTF? I was so scammed.

The card company told me that I would need to send a copy of my state ID, a fax of the card information, and the receipt in order to get my money back which would take 2 weeks to get back. Excuse me. I am not sending a copy of my state ID anywhere just to get my money back, especially since I have had an ID Theif steal $1,000 from me before. I just left in disgust. I was pissed off.

At home I looked up Visa gift card scam, and I saw a website where there were roughly 290 complaints about buying a fraud card from a pharmacy. I was shocked that many of the fraud card complaints came from the same pharmacy I had bought my own fraud card from. One of the tips from a complainer said to open the card in front of cashier and make a purchase on the spot so if it is fraud, a manager may be able to reverse the transaction on the spot and give you your money back right then and there. I remembered thinking,"That is actually good advice."

I went to another store the very next day and bought a Mastercard gift card, learning my lesson from the Visa fraud card. I bought a bag of candy and it went through. So, at least the Mastercard is legitimate.

I'm confused.

Why go through the trouble of buying the card at all?

I mean, you bought the card, then a short time later attempted to buy something using the card? Why?

Why can't you get a regular debit or credit card?

Quote: bw

Why can't you get a regular debit or credit card?

I have a regular debit card, but my family holds it for me for obvious reasons. I tried to get a credit card, but I was declined.

Why didn't the original pharmacy return your money?

Was it a Vanilla Visa gift card?

You aren't a real person.

Quote: teddys

Was it a Vanilla Visa gift card?

They come in flavors ??

Belongs in Misc Discussion, but what the heck....
It's just one of Kentry's threads.
Was hangin w/MickeyC last night and have a bit of a headache this morning.
That is so rare (the headache part ) that it's almost novel.
Must have been the cheap Brand (Costco Chardonnay)
Back to still cheap Barefoot ;-)
In casinos it's Johnny Walker, even when I have to pay.
There's bastards in charge of North Carolina!

Quote: Mosca

Why didn't the original pharmacy return your money?

The manager told me that she was just a temporary manager as the store manager had called out sick or something like that. She told me that the store manager would be in the next day, but the next day was not really convenient for me as I was going to go to a work related event.

Quote: Kentry

The manager told me that she was just a temporary manager as the store manager had called out sick or something like that. She told me that the store manager would be in the next day, but the next day was not really convenient for me as I was going to go to a work related event.

Pshaw.

Reboot and try again.

Quote: MrV

Pshaw.

Reboot and try again.

I asked her to reverse the charge but she claimed only the store manager could reverse the charge.

I got scammed out of my time by this thread

The lesson that is to be learned here is to be very careful when buying a Visa gift card, as you just may be buying a fraud card.

what's the point of buying a visa gift card just to walk around and use it later that day? doesn't seem worth the 2.99 or 3.99 activation fee.. better to just pay with cash, no?

Quote: Kentry

The lesson that is to be learned here is to be very careful when buying a Visa gift card, as you just may be buying a fraud card.

The lesson here is to recognize when your leg is being pulled.

Quote: ajemeister

what's the point of buying a visa gift card just to walk around and use it later that day? doesn't seem worth the 2.99 or 3.99 activation fee.. better to just pay with cash, no?

I bought the card because I knew there was a huge possibility that I could blow my money in slots if I had it in cash, so I wanted to be responsible for a change and make sure I had the money on a card, so that couldn't blow it away into a slot machine. Just a cruel twist of fate that just when I actually started acting like a financially responsible adult I end up inadvertently buying a fraud card in a store and losing the money anyway.

...and you trust a gift card over a debit card...

Quote: ajemeister

...and you trust a gift card over a debit card...

I just said in another post on here that I don't have my debit card on me as my family has it because I used to be highly irresponsible when. I used to have the debit card on me all the time.

Quote: Kentry

Got paid today. Bought $100 gift card from bank so that I wouldn't gamble away half my paycheck again. Refused to make that huge mistake again. Decided to set a set limit of no more than $60 in gambling. Set aside Electric bill money too. Went to Hialeah Park Casino for free play Thursday. Got the free play and saved it for another day. Played roughly $60 in gambling and left.

So which is it? You bought it from your bank or you bought it at a pharmacy.

Quote: Kentry

I just said in another post on here that I don't have my debit card on me as my family has it because I used to be highly irresponsible when. I used to have the debit card on me all the time.

sounds like you'd be better off if you just let your family do your shopping for you

I hate the fact that I'm a grown man and my family took my debit card away from me as if I were an irresponsible teenager. One of my younger family members said,"I'll be damned if get to be Kenneth's age and can't even hold my own debit card."

What I don't understand is why you think the casino want take your gift card at the cage?
Hell, they'll let me write an IOU for 20K, but they want take your $100 gift card?
Are you fibbing to me ??

Quote: TwoFeathersATL

What I don't understand is why you think the casino want take your gift card at the cage?
Hell, they'll let me write an IOU for 20K, but they want take your $100 gift card?
Are you fibbing to me ??

My Mom mentioned that a gift card might be taken at the Casino too. I mentioned it can't be. I remember trying to play a slot machine with my debit card and it didn't accept it. No way is a slot machine going to accept a gift card if it rejected a debit card.

Quote: Kentry

The lesson that is to be learned here is to be very careful when buying a Visa gift card, as you just may be buying a fraud card.

No. The lesson here is to block the posts of any member calling himself Kentry.
Lesson learned. Thanks.

Quote: Kentry

My Mom mentioned that a gift card might be taken at the Casino too. I mentioned it can't be. I remember trying to play a slot machine with my debit card and it didn't accept it. No way is a slot machine going to accept a gift card if it rejected a debit card.

Did you get that debit card from the same pharmacy??
We are talking South Florida here right?

Quote: TwoFeathersATL

Did you get that debit card from the same pharmacy??
We are talking South Florida here right?

I got my debit card from my bank. Yes, I live in South Florida.

Quote: Kentry

My Mom mentioned that a gift card might be taken at the Casino too. I mentioned it can't be. I remember trying to play a slot machine with my debit card and it didn't accept it. No way is a slot machine going to accept a gift card if it rejected a debit card.

Seriously??? Slot machines are CASH ONLY.

However, you can use any sort of card at the ATM and/or at the cage.

Frankly, if you can't hold a couple bucks without being tempted to put it into a slot machine, you need to call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Quote: GWAE

So which is it? You bought it from your bank or you bought it at a pharmacy.

At some point, he should have banked.

Kentry is the weakest link, goodbye.

Besides that, even if he is legitimate, having his DC taken from him? Participating on a Gambling Forum is not the best thing for him.

I've suspected for some time you are not legitimate, Kentry. But, on the outside chance you are, GET HELP.

On the lookout for new members, it's a thankless job,
Thankfully it's not mine...

Got so sick of his posts... he was clearly trying to incite.

LarryS and crew won't be happy.

They did love Kentry.
Which is insightful, in a very distorted way...

At what point should I chime in with I told you so after the first post

Quote: Kentry

I bought the card because I knew there was a huge possibility that I could blow my money in slots if I had it in cash, so I wanted to be responsible for a change and make sure I had the money on a card, so that couldn't blow it away into a slot machine.

Seek help away from a gambling message board.

1bb is going crazy

Quote: Wizardofnothing

At what point should I chime in with I told you so after the first post

You timed it perfectly.
I'm fresh out of prizes, but if I had one, I'd send it to you...

Quote: Wizardofnothing

At what point should I chime in with I told you so after the first post

We've had this conversation. We have rules we have to follow about when/how, and to be able to justify a banning. We're there. Finally.

Re: "justify a banning:" I thought you had absolute discretion to suspend and ban whenever you want, without recourse.

It's not as if The Damned can sue you to get their posting privileges restored.

Yes, I know you want to be fair and follow the rules, but the rule allowing the nuclear option is amorphous as to the actions required to trigger it, which is as it should be.

Like porn, it's "I know it when I see it."

Quote: GWAE

1bb is going crazy

DAM!! you beat me to it?

Quote: MrV

Re: "justify a banning:" I thought you had absolute discretion to suspend and ban whenever you want, without recourse.

It's not as if The Damned can sue you to get their posting privileges restored.

Yes, I know you want to be fair and follow the rules, but the rule allowing the nuclear option is amorphous as to the actions required to trigger it, which is as it should be.

Like porn, it's "I know it when I see it."

Agreed. As my PE teacher / football coach once said, "I only got 1 rule -- do the right thing."

Dear MOD's,

If the back entrance boy actually proved he was legitimate would you allow him back on? IF he were the person he's portraying here, I honestly don't think he has any more of a gambling problem than many posters on here. I would bet just about everyone one of us has gambled more than we should have. I'm not sure his situation rises to the level of an addiction. Perhaps a self control issue, but that's not necessarily an addiction.

There's been other members who have stated they have a gambling problem.

There's been people who certainly appear to have a gambling problem.

I recall an Ahigh thread that may have indicated he wasn't sure if he had a problem and mentioned something about playing on his lunch break.(not picking on him nor saying he did/does)

I think AOS has oftentimes lost more than he planned on, on a few occasions also he has talking about tilting.

Quote: MrV

Re: "justify a banning:" I thought you had absolute discretion to suspend and ban whenever you want, without recourse.

Come on MrV, you know that 1BB is irreplaceable!

You don't get my drift.

I am not questioning their right to ban, in fact I encourage it.

Lot of dead wood to clean off the beach.

Quote: MrV

You don't get my drift.

I am not questioning their right to ban, in fact I encourage it.

Lot of dead wood to clean off the beach.

sometimes dead wood = adds character

How nests I thought the Kentry persona was more fun and interesting than whoever he replaced. I thought it was funny as hell.

Damn, finally a post where I have quite a bit of knowledge about, gift card fraud. Too bad Kentry has been banned. For what it is worth, to the best of my knowledge, here is what might have caused the card to have been fraudulent.

A few of years ago my company was informed that a new scam to be aware of with gift cards was as follows. The scammers would apply stickers to un activated gift cards that are sitting out on display. When the cards are purchased, the cashier has to scan the barcode on the back of the card. Instead of scanning the barcode that belongs to the card inside the package, the barcode that is scanned is actually the sticker that is applied over the existing barcode and the card that is activated is already in possession of the scammer. Periodically the scammer would check the balances on his long list of un activated gift cards to see if any of the stickers he applied to cards in retail stores has been scanned. Once he sees one is active, he would immediately use the card and empty the balance.

To combat this scam, the gift card companies no longer leave the barcodes exposed on the credit card gift cards, Visa, MC, and Amex. There is a perforated piece of cardboard that must be removed by the cashier. I always make sure my cashiers are aware that they are not to activate any gift cards that have the perforated cardboard missing. And I highly suggest the same for anyone reading this. Do not purchase any credit card gift card where the cover on the barcode is missing.

Hope this was more interesting and useful than a Kentry post, if not, I apologize.

Quote: Mosca

How nests I thought the Kentry persona was more fun and interesting than whoever he replaced. I thought it was funny as hell.

I may agree if he was not just making up crap. I say if he's willing to verify he's real he should be allowed back.

Quote: cmlotito

Damn, finally a post where I have quite a bit of knowledge about, gift card fraud. Too bad Kentry has been banned. For what it is worth, to the best of my knowledge, here is what might have caused the card to have been fraudulent.

A few of years ago my company was informed that a new scam to be aware of with gift cards was as follows. The scammers would apply stickers to un activated gift cards that are sitting out on display. When the cards are purchased, the cashier has to scan the barcode on the back of the card. Instead of scanning the barcode that belongs to the card inside the package, the barcode that is scanned is actually the sticker that is applied over the existing barcode and the card that is activated is already in possession of the scammer. Periodically the scammer would check the balances on his long list of un activated gift cards to see if any of the stickers he applied to cards in retail stores has been scanned. Once he sees one is active, he would immediately use the card and empty the balance.

To combat this scam, the gift card companies no longer leave the barcodes exposed on the credit card gift cards, Visa, MC, and Amex. There is a perforated piece of cardboard that must be removed by the cashier. I always make sure my cashiers are aware that they are not to activate any gift cards that have the perforated cardboard missing. And I highly suggest the same for anyone reading this. Do not purchase any credit card gift card where the cover on the barcode is missing.

Hope this was more interesting and useful than a Kentry post, if not, I apologize.

I'm sure someone will find a way to open them insert bogus bar code and glue them back together and return them.

Quote: AxelWolf

I'm sure someone will find a way to open them insert bogus bar code and glue them back together and return them.

Probably will happen some day.

The big thing now is people altering existing credit card's magnetic strip information with a different credit card number and using that card to pay for merchandise, almost always gift cards. I see this almost every week at my store. I am quite good at spotting the altered cards and either not accepting them as a form of payment to outright calling the police on the scammers. Most recently I called the police on person two days ago for attempting to use an altered credit card to purchase a $300 Visa gift card. I could clearly see another set of numbers below the numbers he reprinted on the card when reflecting light off it. Some forgeries are quite good and some are not. In my experience, no matter how good the forgery, there is almost always an indicator screaming at me "don't accept this card, it has been altered."

Next to casino gambling, catching people using altered credit cards (and fake checks) is probably my favorite thing to do. Not sure what that says about me, guess that's just the way I'm wired.

Quote: cmlotito

Probably will happen some day.

The big thing now is people altering existing credit card's magnetic strip information with a different credit card number and using that card to pay for merchandise, almost always gift cards. I see this almost every week at my store. I am quite good at spotting the altered cards and either not accepting them as a form of payment to outright calling the police on the scammers. Most recently I called the police on person two days ago for attempting to use an altered credit card to purchase a $300 Visa gift card. I could clearly see another set of numbers below the numbers he reprinted on the card when reflecting light off it. Some forgeries are quite good and some are not. In my experience, no matter how good the forgery, there is almost always an indicator screaming at me "don't accept this card, it has been altered."

Next to casino gambling, catching people using altered credit cards (and fake checks) is probably my favorite thing to do. Not sure what that says about me, guess that's just the way I'm wired.

When I worked as a bank teller (another life ago), that was a real high point, finding counterfeit as it came in so they could id the customer that passed it. Most of it came out of commercial deposits, but a fair amount was people trying a fast one. So I get your enthusiasm for catching the problem (and the thief) right then.

Also appreciated your tips on the gift card frauds. I give them every year to my nieces and nephews. Nice to know what to look for. I have seen a few with the stickers without realizing what the scam was, and wondered why they were stickered; good to have that question answered, though if I'd realized at the time what was going on, I would've pulled them from the store display.