Pizza Express card possible scam?

Slinky

Not sure if somebody is trying to scam us, OH bought some Pizza Express gift cards from Costco a couple of weeks ago. He's just had this email in. Is this real or is it a scam? There's a notice on the back of the cards saying 'no value until activated at the till', which I would expect to see for an instore purchase, but these were bought online. If there was anything in the paperwork about activating the cards, we mislaid it. I had to sign for the delivery which suggests to me they were the equivalent of cash.

Good day Mr Slinky

My name is Gemma and I work for Costco.co.uk customer care.
I have been asked to contact you to get the 19 digit number off the back of each Pizza Express card you have received, so we can make sure that all the cards are activated for you.
Can you please email me back with the numbers


Kind Regards,

Name of Person


Costco Agent | NCO Europe | New City House, 57-63 Ringway, Preston, Lancs PR1 1AF

Greta_Sharbo

Sounds odd.
Any clues in the sender's email address?
Is that genuine Costco postal address?
Have you tried to contact Costco (on a number you know to be right - not the one that may be in the email)?

Slinky

Greta_Sharbo wrote: »

Sounds odd.
Any clues in the sender's email address?
Is that genuine Costco postal address?
Have you tried to contact Costco (on a number you know to be right - not the one that may be in the email)?

The email address outwardly looks like an NCO Europe email address (see address at the bottom). I've just checked the balance of the card online with Pizza Express and it's zero. I called PE and the lady at the Customer Experience team hadn't heard of them, but again she checked the card number and said it had a zero balance.

Will get OH to contact Costco directly tomorrow.

Ectophile

It rather sounds like they forgot to activate the cards before shipping. Or else shipped them and then realised that they couldn't activate them because they didn't keep the details.

But if I were in your position, I would first contact Costco through an email or phone number that's known to be genuine - such as one off their web site.

Slinky

Ectophile wrote: »

It rather sounds like they forgot to activate the cards before shipping. Or else shipped them and then realised that they couldn't activate them because they didn't keep the details.

You could well be right. It's 9 days since the order was shipped... with potential for a very embarrassing situation if we'd given them as gifts.

Slinky

Have contacted Costco via their Facebook page and received this response. It would appear the email is legitimate.

NCO Europe are the external Customer Care team for costco.co.uk. If you wish, please contact our Online Customer Care team on 0800 0324 324 or at customercare@costco.co.uk and the team will assist with activating your Pizza Express vouchers.

Kingsd316

Maybe they do not send out activated cards in case they are lost in the post?

Slinky

Kingsd316 wrote: »

Maybe they do not send out activated cards in case they are lost in the post?

They came by courier and I had to sign for them.

I don't recall seeing any paperwork saying they needed to be activated, there's certainly nothing indicating that on the details on their website.

DCFC79

Have you phoned them yet ?