Newbie advice required for VISA gift cards

[Deleted User]

MoneySaverUK123 wrote: »

I don't get the feeling that this is a fraud attempt.

Unless you are related by blood to this person, it's a scam.

And if you are, its still probably a scam.

Terry_Towelling

At the end of the day, this individual (whom you don't know, if you're honest about it) could just as easily buy his own GBP pre-paid card in the USA and bring it over to use.

Why didn't he just do that? Why not just use a credit/debit card of his own? Why not just bring cash? Why would he approach you in particular?

He's just laundering dirty money through you and that could land you in a whole lot of hot water.

I don't know what's best to do now - send it back or talk to PayPal about your new-found suspicions first.

Whatever you do, don't go ahead with the request and perhaps 'unlink' your bank accounts/cards from your PayPal account for the time being, in case it is possible for a chain reaction of account freezes to come down the line and leave you without any access to banking facilities.

As a matter of interest, how were you going to get the card to this individual?

AndyPix

Terry_Towelling wrote: »

As a matter of interest, how were you going to get the card to this individual?

The way it usually plays out is the person requests the details from the card and then uses it online to buy stuff - money completely laundered

MoneySaverUK123

OK, interesting, thanks. Re: getting the card to him. I have his postal mailing address, as I have sent him goods in the past, via successful ebay transactions, and so I was going to mail the card to him. The successful ebay transactions came to >1K GBP, and he's left positive feedback for them, so I still think there's every chance that this request isn't a fraud attempt, but what I will do is ask him for more details about his request - like, why he wants the card from me, and why he hasn't got his own card via other means. Thanks.

AndyPix

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Money ....

Ebe_Scrooge

MoneySaverUK123 wrote: »

I still think there's every chance that this request isn't a fraud attempt, but what I will do is ask him for more details about his request - like, why he wants the card from me, and why he hasn't got his own card via other means. Thanks.

Really - don't. Just don't. Don't even get involved in conversation with him. Just block him, or whatever. But please don't even entertain the idea of going any further with this. This will only end one way - and it's not good.

MallyGirl

there was a thread on here a while back by someone who had got suckered into money laundering - risk of bank account shut down, all sorts of bad stuff

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5880150/advice-needed-i-think-ive-been-conned-by-a-friend

The amount is too low to be saving him much in Forex - there simply is no legitimate reason for him to want you to do this Send the money back and walk away.

AndyPix

Out of interest OP - what's in it for you ??


As I said, there is normally a carrot - Did they send you more than £300 'as a thanks for your assistance' ?

Terry_Towelling

MoneySaverUK123 wrote: »

OK, interesting, thanks. Re: getting the card to him. I have his postal mailing address, as I have sent him goods in the past, via successful ebay transactions, and so I was going to mail the card to him. The successful ebay transactions came to >1K GBP, and he's left positive feedback for them, so I still think there's every chance that this request isn't a fraud attempt, but what I will do is ask him for more details about his request - like, why he wants the card from me, and why he hasn't got his own card via other means. Thanks.

He's done his 'grooming' job well - bought stuff from you (probably with 'hookey' money) and garnered your trust by saying lovely things about you on the internet.

So, you send him the card (and PIN) and, mysteriously, he doesn't come to the UK after all (gets ill/family bereavement/general sob-story to keep you believing) but just spends online (or sells the card on) and waits to see if his trail is found. Then in a few weeks, if his trail is not uncovered, he will mysteriously contact you again (or maybe some other online seller) because he's better now and wants to come over but has had to spend the previous card-load on medication/funeral expenses.

Are you actually being straight with us, MoneysaverUK123? You have a whole load of people on the forum (whom you know just as well as your US 'friend') saying you are getting dragged into something potentially illegal and you keep trotting out the sweet, innocent, I'm-sure-it's-OK lines. If I accused you of just spinning us along, how would you react? Surely anyone presented with such an overwhelming verdict of 'don't touch' would actually listen.

No matter, perhaps I'm being unkind but do let us know what wonderful tales about forex charges/customs restrictions/can't get CHIP & PIN in the US etc etc he comes up with to suck you even further in.