Quote: beachbumbabsWhen 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.
Your welcome.
Quote: rxwineThe first known gift card scam was the depreciation on some of them done by the companies themselves if they weren't used within a period of time.
True, but that was legal at the time.
The new cards with RFID chips are supposed to repair that problem.Quote: cmlotitoThe 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.
Quote: RogerKintAre prepaid cards a good alternative to use for hotel deposit incidentals? I've never had a credit card and don't like the idea of giving debit. The D, Golden Gate and a few others do not accept cash for some reason.
IMO, yes they are. I could be wrong, as I don't know whether, when a hotel takes a deposit and then returns it on checkout, it will be correctly credited back to that card. Or if you bought something and returned it, the store usually credits the card rather than giving you cash, don't know if that type of card takes a store credit. I'd find that out first.
Quote: WizardofnothingHotels to not take prepaid cards for deposits and almost any single one I have ever stayed out however they do take a secure card prepaid with your name on it
There's prepaid, and there's prepaid. You can fund a secure card at a reputable bank that would not otherwise extend unsecured credit to you, or even bother with a credit check. All it takes is cash. I'm not sure a merchant can tell the difference.
Then there's prepaid cards you can get at the pharmacy or wherever, and pay cash at the counter. I'm guessing they look different.
Don't know if either can be reloaded, or are one-time use. Also don't know about credits or refunds back to the card.
Just get a credit card already. You can lie about your income (the bogeyman won't come and get you). Get a $1,000-$2,500 limit and use it for car rentals and hotel deposits exclusively. Nothing else. It's just a tool.Quote: RogerKintAre prepaid cards a good alternative to use for hotel deposit incidentals? I've never had a credit card and don't like the idea of giving debit. The D, Golden Gate and a few others do not accept cash for some reason.
I had a harrowing experience with gift cards. I bought about 30 of them at Office Max (they were on sale). A bunch of them didn't work. I had to call their customer service, which was abysmal, and send in a bunch of documentation. They are really terrible. This was Vanilla Visa gift cards.
You can get a paid subscription one but once you cancel it hurts your Credit.
Get a second bank account.
Life LEsson, TAKE NOTHING FOR FACE VALUE EVEN WELL REPUTED COMPANIES ! I been around the streets all my life and worked in a small shop, I could not believe the theivery of Elderly, Handicap, and Soccer Moms, the Upper and Middle Class are some of the worst. The poor rarely stole. Its amazing that I thougt I have seen everything till I worked in a small business.
The gov't is corrupt with their covert and overt budget.
But not car rentals. Debit cards won't work for car rentals unless you bring 2 utility bills and proof of residence.
Quote: WizardofnothingHi mark Hernandez a welcome to the forum. Do you know anyone named kentry
+1
Not the writer...
I didn't really understand what happened until later when I saw her at the casino when she showed me the texts,emails, etc. Turned out she went to a downtown Pittsburgh store to cash her check and they cashed it by placing it on a debit card. It immediately didn't work for her, she was unable to get cash for it, and was totally SOL. Absolutely didn't believe her at the time and thought she was hustling me making up stories and excuses, but it was completely true and she repaid me promptly when she could. She had also told me she was getting paid on a Tuesday or Thursday which also seemed suspicious. Stories like that I had heard before at previous employer and had thought it was just in the book of lies putting off creditors.
So in conclusion, she bought a debit card, forced into it to cash a check, which immediately didn't work because it already had a fraud alert or something to that effect, had no access to her money for weeks until resolution, and was charged almost $30 to get the card. Not to mention, she could not get a refund at the store. It was a really fishy but true story, and she repaid my money plus some.
She had blamed two guys standing around the shop near the register, but must have been something like was posted about.
You might be right. She didn't even understand they weren't giving her cash for the check before she got the debit card or she couldn't access cash in the event the card actually worked. Due to money laundering, terrorist financing whatever, cards need a name to use ATMs or to be spent online.Quote: WizardofnothingThe fees are capped by law I believe. However she probably didn't explain it right and the 30 dollars was the fee of cashing the check
Seriously? Either you're trying to implicate yourself as being kentry, or you have a thing for him, or you're trying to stir up Sh*it because you are him? Which is it? Please drop the innocent act ,you're not fooling anyone, you're just trying to cause problems and get attention.Quote: NathanThat's really really messed up, ONM. I'd be going ballistic if I were faced with the possibility of having no money for weeks for something that was really not my fault!
It's like you're trying to taunt WON and others. That's trolling IMO.