there someone who wants to sell his home depot gift card for less than its value becuase he isnt planning to buy anything. is there any possible way its fake, even though hes going to verify it's value in front of me at the store? like can he take the code and use it somewhere before i get a chance to use it?
2007-04-12 17:46:14 · 4 answers · asked by dabo 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
Drug dealers sometimes buy cards to launder money. You can buy them on eBay for undervalue. Just see if you can check the balance first. You can call the number on the back. I know animal shelters that take your Target gift cards that you aren't going to use. They buy stuff they need.
2007-04-12 18:28:58 · answer #1 · answered by chaseunchase 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are a few problems and I would probably stay away from this transaction.
If he still has the original purchase receipt, he can turn around and claim it was stolen. They will then cancel your card and issue him a new one.
Most Gift Cards have a 3 or 4 digit number that is hidden on the back of the card and to see it you have to scratch off the covering, somthing like you see on lottery tickets. If that number is visible(the covering has been scratched off) he could then go on-line and use the card.
Also, since he is meeting you at a store will you have any record of where this guy lives? If something does go wrong with the card do you have valid way other than an e-mail address to contact him.
2007-04-13 02:08:09 · answer #2 · answered by OC1999 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a lot of gift card fraud out there. I found a lot of it on eBay. I guess the person could use the number online to order something. Or maybe 2 minutes after you buy the card they have the orginal purchaser go into another store with the reciept can say they lost thier card. Then yours is cancelled.
Or it could have been purchased with a stolen credit card. Then maybe you go to use it and it gets declined.
2007-04-13 01:01:50 · answer #3 · answered by Gatsby216 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask the seller to provide the original receipt along with the gift card. That's the only way to be 100% sure you won't be cheated. Another option is to do your shopping and then meet this person at the checkout so that you use the card immediately. Here's the link to HD's gift card FAQ:
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&IRC=2&searchText=gift+card&CNTKEY=GiftCard&BV_SessionID=@@@@1812320656.1176650162@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccefaddkjjfjfgicgelceffdfgidgml.0
If you're interested in discounted gift cards that have been pre-screened and are backed by a guarantee try this site:
http://www.stargiftcardexchange.com
Good luck!
2007-04-15 11:21:59 · answer #4 · answered by mister_a 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋