[INFO] How to Buy an Amazon Gift Card and NOT BE SCAMMED

[bpovtmg]

Hi, guys!

I have been buying Amazon gift cards for bitcoins for some time already and have seen ... well ... different ways used to scam some simple-minded bitcoin buyers (including me initially).

Below are simple guidelines that will decrease your probability of being scammed when buying an Amazon Gift Card:

- Use an Escrow (this is obvious and comes first)

- Ask  for the photo of both sides of the 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.

- 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.


Those guidelines are simple, but they definitely will make your life happier enjoying your Amazon Gift Card in full.

I think the fellow forum members will definitely add their insights to this message.

[Crypto8man]

How about egift codes? Is it safe?

[bpovtmg]

How about egift codes? Is it safe?

My personal opinion is that e-gift codes are much less safe compared to physical cards. With them, you absolutely don't know who and how generated them. I purchased egift codes a couple of times at LocalBitcoins, but this was with a VERY reputable vendor with a VERY good feedback ratio.

To be safe you need to know the person who bought or generated the egift code. It is also a very common scam to buy egifts with stolen credit cards and then resell them for bitcoins with a huge discount like 20%+.

[kirch]

Hi, guys!

I have been buying Amazon gift cards for bitcoins for some time already and have seen ... well ... different ways used to scam some simple-minded bitcoin buyers (including me initially).

Below are simple guidelines that will decrease your probability of being scammed when buying an Amazon Gift Card:

- Use an Escrow (this is obvious and comes first)

- Ask  for the photo of both sides of the 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.

- 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.


Those guidelines are simple, but they definitely will make your life happier enjoying your Amazon Gift Card in full.

I think the fellow forum members will definitely add their insights to this message.

why not buy from amazon directly ,instead

[bpovtmg]

Hi, guys!

I have been buying Amazon gift cards for bitcoins for some time already and have seen ... well ... different ways used to scam some simple-minded bitcoin buyers (including me initially).

Below are simple guidelines that will decrease your probability of being scammed when buying an Amazon Gift Card:

- Use an Escrow (this is obvious and comes first)

- Ask  for the photo of both sides of the 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.

- 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.


Those guidelines are simple, but they definitely will make your life happier enjoying your Amazon Gift Card in full.

I think the fellow forum members will definitely add their insights to this message.

why not buy from amazon directly ,instead

Well, people buy Amazon cards and e-codes because they have bitcoins and want to get a discount on the dollar value of the card. Getting a 15-20% discount on your dollars with a fully legit Amazon card is possible , but you need to be cautious.

I would say if you have bitcoins and are OK with 15% discount, then use Purse.io. If you want 15%+, then you may want  to shop around trying to get those cards on your own, but you should be careful in this case against buying a non-legit code (that could result in  a blocked Amazon account etc).

[Diced90]

This is very informative from you and other than amazon gift cards any hands on experience with ebay gift cards and the necessary precautions to take

[bpovtmg]

This is very informative from you and other than amazon gift cards any hands on experience with ebay gift cards and the necessary precautions to take

I didn't buy ebay cards, but I think this fully applies to them and other gift cards too because they have the similar principles.

To be safe:

- you need to be sure that the card seller physically has the card and  the cash receipt
- you need to be sure that the card and the receipt match
- you need to be sure that the card was bought with cash and not with credit card

[kirch]

This is very informative from you and other than amazon gift cards any hands on experience with ebay gift cards and the necessary precautions to take

I didn't buy ebay cards, but I think this fully applies to them and other gift cards too because they have the similar principles.

To be safe:

- you need to be sure that the card seller physically has the card and  the cash receipt
- you need to be sure that the card and the receipt match
- you need to be sure that the card was bought with cash and not with credit card

you are wrong even if the seller has card and receipt and paid with cash,is not always safe
Have you heard about ransomware scams ? and how the scammers get the gift cards from victims ?
they get scans of receipts and cards ,the victims buy with cash and send..later these cards are cancelled after the victim reports to amazon/ebay or whatever

[HarryJackson]

you must carefully if you want buy amazon gift card.

[bpovtmg]

This is very informative from you and other than amazon gift cards any hands on experience with ebay gift cards and the necessary precautions to take

I didn't buy ebay cards, but I think this fully applies to them and other gift cards too because they have the similar principles.

To be safe:

- you need to be sure that the card seller physically has the card and  the cash receipt
- you need to be sure that the card and the receipt match
- you need to be sure that the card was bought with cash and not with credit card

you are wrong even if the seller has card and receipt and paid with cash,is not always safe
Have you heard about ransomware scams ? and how the scammers get the gift cards from victims ?
they get scans of receipts and cards ,the victims buy with cash and send..later these cards are cancelled after the victim reports to amazon/ebay or whatever

You are right, kirch!

I do not pretend that if you follow my guidelines you'll be 100% safe. My point is that if you follow those guidelines your *probability* to be scammed when buying an Amazon or other gift card will be less.

To be 100% safe = buy the Amazon card on your own from Amazon directly. But you will not get any discount with that. Buying Amazon gift cards with your hard-earned may give you 15-20% discount on the dollar value, but the risk increases. of course.  Following my guidelines you reduce, but not eliminate the risk completely.

[Crypto8man]

Wow, so even having a cash receipt is not 100% safe. What wil they do after canceling? Cancel the order or even lock the account?

[bpovtmg]

Wow, so even having a cash receipt is not 100% safe. What wil they do after canceling? Cancel the order or even lock the account?

Not only the locked account or cancelled order, you may even get a visit from the police (especially, if you live in the US).

[bpovtmg]

I think it's useful to have this topic be republished ...

[Btcsunami]

Very useful info.

Should make this thread sticky.

[SM23031997]

Thanks for the guide, looking to buy a gift card, 1st from bitcointalk forum and found this post very helpful.
keep it up and keep adding new information regularly to this post.

[bpovtmg]

I can sell you a fully legit card or "Transfer a Balance" to your account at 90% :-))

Thanks for the guide, looking to buy a gift card, 1st from bitcointalk forum and found this post very helpful.
keep it up and keep adding new information regularly to this post.

[SM23031997]

I can sell you a fully legit card or "Transfer a Balance" to your account at 90% :-))

Thanks for the guide, looking to buy a gift card, 1st from bitcointalk forum and found this post very helpful.
keep it up and keep adding new information regularly to this post.

A thread is open to digital goods.
I want to buy an amazon.in gift card of value above 500 INR before 21st Sept if I don't get it at a reasonable rate then surely come back to you to buy here one-day before 21 sept

Hope you have that or have the ability to purchase it instantly.

[Lounadolcy]

The only thing  that you need to buy an Amazon and not be Scammed
is do not pay the cost of the gift card before the shipping of your product .

[bpovtmg]

That's definitely true if your gift card vendor is ready to wait ...

The only thing  that you need to buy an Amazon and not be Scammed
is do not pay the cost of the gift card before the shipping of your product .

[Lounadolcy]

That's definitely true if your gift card vendor is ready to wait ...

The only thing  that you need to buy an Amazon and not be Scammed
is do not pay the cost of the gift card before the shipping of your product .

that s why we use escrow