I have been dealing with the Amazon Gift cards for several years on Paxful.
Below are some guidelines that will decrease your probability of being scammed when buying an Amazon Gift Card (and many other gift cards):
- Use an Escrow (this is obvious and comes first) if in any doubt
- Ask for the photo of both sides of the physical gift card where the FULL card is visible (no hidden edges etc) and the photo has a good resolution.
- Ask for a photo of the cash receipt given to the card seller when the card was bought in a shop
- Check that the cash receipt looks ... well ... like a normal cash receipt.
- Check that the *Card Number* from the card matches to the Card Number on the cash receipt.
The *Card Number* is NOT the *Card Code*. The *Card Code* is the code that you redeem at Amazon and it looks like "AQZZ-TRDETY-CY9QF". The *Card Number* looks like a normal credit card number and consists of a long string of digits. Normally, the last 4 digits or the full *Card Number* are printed on the cash receipt. When you buy an Amazon gift card, the *Card Number* is visible (it's also printed on the package) and the *Card Code* is not visible (you need to scrape off the plastic film covering it to see the actual *Card Code*).
- Ask the card seller to write something in pen on the cash receipt (something like "Sold to <> at bitcointalk.org. No refund") and make a photo where BOTH the card and cash receipt are visible. This point helps to ensure that the seller has both the cash receipt and card physically in his hands.
- Check on the cash receipt that the Amazon card has been bought with CASH (not with a Credit Card). It shall be clearly written on the receipt. If you see that the card was bought with a credit card, avoid it. It's a significant probability that the credit card used for that was stolen.
- E-gift codes are much less safe compared to physical cards. With them, you absolutely don't know who and how generated them. Purchase e-codes from a VERY reputable vendor with a VERY good feedback ratio ONLY.
- Offers with rates less than 80% should BY DEFAULT be considered as suspicious if not explicitly proven otherwise. At Paxful, traders buy 100% legit Amazon Gift Cards at 85+%, so ask yourself why your seller is asking much less from you.
- Beware of vendors with "locked" threads where nobody else can comment except them. Those guys are very probably scammers because honest vendors don't fear the customers feedback, good or bad
- Beware of vendors with threads where all messages are from newbies successfully buying and telling each other how great this vendor is.
- As a rule DO NOT CONSIDER trading with vendors with the red trust of -3 or lower. Don't deal 100% at all if the red trust is -4 or even lower. Review the trust level carefully.
- Consider using alternative methods of replenishing your Amazon balance (Gift of Prime , Gift of Kindle Unlimited)
- Buy from reputable vendors (and remember your rates will be within 85-95% range in this case) ONLY
- Scammers normally will try to rush you that you don't have time to review the offer carefully. Be calm.
- Reread this thread and ask if in doubt
The full thread is here:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2376993.0
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