List of Common Gift Card Trading Scams (with Identification Methods)
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here’s a clear List of Common Gift Card Trading Scams (with Identification Methods) in English:
Common Gift Card Trading Scams & How to Spot Them- Too-Good-to-Be-True Prices
Scam: Sellers offer gift cards at extremely low prices (e.g., $100 Amazon card for $40).
Risk: Likely stolen, hacked, or already redeemed; the balance may vanish after purchase.
How to Spot:
Discounts above 30–40% are highly suspicious.
Seller pressures you to act fast (“limited time only”).
- Fake Balance Screenshots
Scam: Seller provides a screenshot showing a high balance.
Risk: Screenshot may be forged, or the balance used up right after you check.
How to Spot:
Always verify the balance directly on the official site/app.
Ask for a partial card number only, not the full one, until payment is secured.
- Code Draining (Card Number Swap)
Scam: Seller gives you a valid code, but as soon as you pay, they (or bots) drain the balance.
Risk: You end up paying for an empty card.
How to Spot:
Insist on using escrow or trade platforms where both sides are protected.
Avoid direct peer-to-peer trades with strangers.
- “Card First, Money Later” Trap
Scam: Buyer asks you to send the gift card code first, promising payment afterward.
Risk: They redeem the code and vanish without paying.
How to Spot:
Never deliver full codes before receiving payment (unless via a secure escrow).
Use only trusted trading platforms with buyer/seller protection.
- Fake Middleman / Escrow
Scam: Seller or buyer introduces a “trusted middleman” who is actually part of the scam.
Risk: Both your money and card are stolen.
How to Spot:
Only use built-in escrow services from reputable platforms (e.g., Paxful, Binance P2P, CardCash).
Never trust a random Telegram/WhatsApp “middleman.”
- Physical Gift Card Swap
Scam: In face-to-face or shipping trades, scammers swap the real card with an empty one.
Risk: You receive a useless card.
How to Spot:
Inspect the code and verify balance on the spot before completing the exchange.
Prefer digital codes from secure sources.
- Stolen Credit Card Purchases
Scam: Scammers buy gift cards using stolen credit cards and then resell them.
Risk: Cards get canceled or frozen once the fraud is detected.
How to Spot:
Very steep discounts often signal stolen goods.
Safer to buy from official retailers or verified resellers.
Safety ChecklistDon’t chase unrealistic discounts.
Verify balance directly, not via screenshots.
Never release codes or funds first without escrow.
Stick to well-known platforms (CardCash, Raise, Paxful, Binance P2P, etc.).
Start with small test trades when dealing with new sellers/buyers.
