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Gift Card Issue

Hi All -

 

My aunt gave me a $25 eBay gift card about a year ago and I just came across it in my desk today.  I went to pull the tape off covering the code and half of the numbers pulled off with the tape and now is unreadable.  I don’t have the receipt and I’m sure my aunt doesn’t either after this much time has passed.  Any way to use this or am I SOL?  Seems like it was a defective card and I’m sure this is not the first one to do this.  Is this another way eBay creates income for themselves- LOL

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Gift Card Issue

I have to tell you it's not easy rubbing the code off with a coin...of any gift cards.

Tape on code but not with the receipt?

We just get too many posts here about the code this and that...and I can't believe there are soooo many defective cards out there.

Card makes a good book marker...

 

Message 2 of 9
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Gift Card Issue

Look through your wastecan for the tape. Maybe the numbers can still be seen on it. Bummer...

Message 3 of 9
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Gift Card Issue

That gift card was tampered with on the store rack, before it was purchased. Scammers scratched the stuff off, recorded the numbers, damaged the numbers so the purchaser would not be able to use the cards, put new scratch-off material to make the cards look untouched, and put them back on the rack. Then they waited until the cards were purchased and activated. They monitor the cards they have tampered with, and very likely they had spent the money before you got the cards home.

I don't believe eBay can help with this, because they won't take responsibility for poor security at the store where you bought them. You can try contacting the store, but they may or may not be willing to accept responsibility. You may need to contact the credit card you used for the purchase and do a chargeback.

Unfortunately, the only thing you can do to avoid this, is to not buy cards that are accessible to customers in the store before they are sold. Only purchase from stores that keep their gift cards away from buyers, behind security barriers.

Message 4 of 9
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Gift Card Issue

Not just eBay cards but Apple cards that are tamper proof are scammed. I purchased one last week and the cashier tears off the paper strip and types in the code and it came back bad. She told me to go get another card. I did and it wouldn't  activate. So she goes and gets every card on the rack, about 8 of them every one but one would not activate. I was nervous to even walk out with the card that was able to be activated. Guess what? I gave it as a gift and the recipient informed me the Apple store wouldn't  take it because it was already used, no balance! $500 thrown away because the store wouldn't refund.

NEVER AGAiN will I guy a gift card. 

Message 5 of 9
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Gift Card Issue

"Is this another way eBay creates income for themselves"

 

Ebay has nothing to do with it. This should have been address a year ago. There is a chance it was tampered with which you are out of luck either way. 

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Gift Card Issue


@12345jamesstamps wrote:

I have to tell you it's not easy rubbing the code off with a coin...of any gift cards.

 


I wouldn't say that, some are pretty easy.

My granddaughter uses Straight Talk and bought a card a couple weeks ago and scratched off a couple numbers in the middle.

It took a little bit, but I was able to figure out the numbers to get it to work.

Have a great day.
Message 7 of 9
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Gift Card Issue

All but the last 4 numbers should be along the bottom of the card.

Depending on what numbers are missing, you might be able to figure out the missing numbers.

Have a great day.
Message 8 of 9
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Gift Card Issue

Thanks all - seems like if there’s a way for losers to steal and scam they will find it. Just glad it wasn’t for a lot of money.  Cheers!

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