I Have Been Scammed Buying Gift Cards on OzBargain Multiple Times

Bargain2020 on 06/05/2023 - 14:06
Last edited 24/05/2023 - 17:44 by 1 other user

Hi Everybody,
I hope I don’t get in trouble for posting this.

I’m very concerned about the number of times I have been scammed on OzBargain when buying Gift Cards. And of course I want to keep using OzBargain for this purpose and others. Yes, I know. Buyer beware. But I always look at the history of somebody and how long they have been using OzBargain.

I have been scammed three times. Once when the seller reused the GC; and twice when I never got the GC’s.

I’m wondering how common this is, and hence the poll. I’m also interested in any recommendations to minimize the risk of this, in particular.

My recommendation is that OzBargain have a Forum (or similar) where suspected scammers are named as soon as possible. When I reported the most recent scam to OzBargain, the moderator reported back to me that three other people had already reported the same person. The obvious question is, how do we let everybody know as quickly as possible.

Interested in any ideas.

Poll Options expired

  • 8
    Scammed Three Or More Times
  • 4
    Scammed Twice
  • 26
    Scammed Once
  • 393
    Never Scammed.
Site Discussion Gift Card

Comments

    • Bargain2020 on 06/05/2023 - 14:16
      +2

      Thank you.

      • resisting the urge on 08/05/2023 - 13:46

        Surely The OP Meant To Say:

        "I have been scammed buying gift cards on OzBargain, multiple times"

  • foxmulder on 06/05/2023 - 14:15
    +54

    Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

    • easternculture on 06/05/2023 - 14:19
      +62

      Fool me three times, hand in your ozbargain badge.

      • johnfuller on 09/05/2023 - 09:42
        +1

        😂😁😁😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

    • Daniel Plainview on 06/05/2023 - 14:21
      +1

      ….Fool me three times? (as the OP has)

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 06/05/2023 - 14:31
        +4

        Some people never learn.
        What was it about repeating the same thing but expecting a different outcome….?

        • jollibot on 07/05/2023 - 10:38
          +4

          Not sure, but that sounds insane.

      • Gunnar on 06/05/2023 - 17:05
        +13

        Fool me three times I become NDIS eligible

    • Guybrush57 on 06/05/2023 - 15:12
      +45

      Fool me once, shame on…shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again.

      • EsteemedCuckold on 06/05/2023 - 18:43
        +2

        Classic

      • Scrooge McDuck on 07/05/2023 - 12:22
        +4

        I think we agree, the past is over.

      • sghetti on 07/05/2023 - 21:36
        +2

        Stop beating around the bush

      • Smol Cat on 09/05/2023 - 10:23

        I absolutely love this Bush quote. It's just some next level stuff.

    • tabz on 06/05/2023 - 20:32
      +4

      Fool me once, strike one. But fool me twice…. Strike three.

    • JimB on 07/05/2023 - 21:53

      Doh too late

    • UsernameChecksIn on 14/05/2023 - 17:38

      Fooled Bargain2020 twice

      Shame on foxmulder

  • [Deactivated] on 06/05/2023 - 14:20
    +5

    Well, hindsight is 2020 & apparently certain old - 5+yrs - OzB accounts are the worst due to the ageing process, unlike blue cheese.

    Also, similar vintage accounts prefer to insult others when they take exception to a comment rather than use their words to discuss further.

    • deme on 06/05/2023 - 18:47
      +1

      OzB accounts are the worst due to the ageing process\

      What do you mean?

      • [Deactivated] on 06/05/2023 - 18:54
        +1

        There was a recent scammed-over-GCs OP where there was discussion over aged OzB accounts doin' the alleged scamming. Scammed members expressed shock at an old account being involved due to an old account previously being regarded positively in terms of supposed trustworthiness.

        • Franc-T on 07/05/2023 - 22:51
          +1

          Might be inactive hacked account. From what I understand, hackers love older accounts on ebay with a history they can exploit as well.

          • resisting the urge on 08/05/2023 - 13:52
            +3

            @Franc-T: Perhaps it's time that superlong passwords were made mandatatoryatoryatoryatoryatoryatoryatory…. !!!$*#}@

            Didn't vote as there is no 'Didn't sign up to Gift Cards as they are all scams' option, as when they are not, it is only a matter of time before participants end up getting scammed in an unexpected way.

            • Franc-T on 08/05/2023 - 15:22

              @resisting the urge: we are doomed with passwords, because it doesnt matter how good you are - latitude, medibank, optus you name it let our details out for scammers to make with what they will.

            • Korban Dallas on 09/05/2023 - 01:45

              @resisting the urge: Battery-horse-correct-staple

    • frewer on 07/05/2023 - 16:25

      Excuse you! dont slump up every1 in your dirty mind, thank you very much.

    • randomusername2017 on 08/05/2023 - 00:08
      +1

      ageing process

      Are you suggesting that someone would setup and maintain an account for >5 years with the initial intent and end goal of scamming other members?

      • davis01 on 08/05/2023 - 09:24
        +1

        Same thing happens in finance, fraudsters will create a credit report usually by mobile phone credit check, let the file sit there for at least 3 years and than go for something after this personal/auto loan or cc, just for the purposes of blending in.

      • [Deactivated] on 08/05/2023 - 15:29

        @FireRunner suggested it

  • Settero on 06/05/2023 - 14:21
    +1

    Did they have a long history of selling giftcards or just being a member , if just being a member it's pretty common for compromised accounts to be used this way

    • Nalar on 08/05/2023 - 13:26

      I dont understand why there wasn't a Password reset being forced after the data breach

      • banana365 on 08/05/2023 - 16:05

        I wasn't even aware there had been one and I've been on OzB for years. Perhaps it got buried in the avalanche of breach notifications last year.

  • SnowDragon on 06/05/2023 - 14:28
    +26

    Only ever bought and sold streaming service slots plus an endota gift voucher and it's been fine.

    Personally never bothered with gift cards because saving 5-10% isn't worth the hastle of buying them.

  • bargaino on 06/05/2023 - 14:32
    +1

    Something tells me you're not here for the hunting.

  • AustriaBargain on 06/05/2023 - 14:33
    +3

    Well being spammed after buying gift cards is better than being scammed out of your money. At least when you get spammed after buying the cards you can still use the cards to buy stuff and you can just ignore the spam.

  • spackbace on 06/05/2023 - 14:35
    +11

    The only problem I see with the process is that no one publicly puts on any classifieds post "thanks for not sending the gift card" or anything similar.

    If the community doesn't warn others about the behaviour, how is it possibly going to get stamped out? Some random PM's you and deals with you in there, and not out in the public on your post, you have no chance of someone coming in saying "don't deal with that guy, he scammed me before" etc

    • Savas on 06/05/2023 - 16:53
      +21

      Like the moderator , employee badge etc.. there should be a “Scammer” badge…

      • WhyAmICommenting on 07/05/2023 - 10:11
        +3

        Shame!

      • Tommyaka on 07/05/2023 - 10:56
        +5

        Or you know, we could ban the account.

        • solidussnake on 08/05/2023 - 12:05

          And then they just create ones..

          • Tommyaka on 08/05/2023 - 12:40

            @solidussnake: I'm sure the mods could slap an IP ban if necessary.

            • banana365 on 08/05/2023 - 16:06
              +2

              @Tommyaka: That's about as easily worked round as creating a new account.

              • Tommyaka on 08/05/2023 - 17:37
                -2

                @banana365: Better to not try I suppose.

                Yes they can use a VPN, but I'm betting they'd quickly exhaust all the free VPN services if they get banned frequently.

                Yes they can start using paid VPN services, but now they'd be chewing into their own money so this acts as a disincentive. There's also only a finite number of paid VPN services and IP addresses and eventually all would be exhausted.

            • [Deactivated] on 08/05/2023 - 20:13
              +2

              @Tommyaka: Sadly pointless. I get a new IP every time I turn my modem off/on.

  • Dave Bowman on 06/05/2023 - 14:41

    Stop it.

  • DemocracyManifest on 06/05/2023 - 14:45

    I’ve sold but never bought in the classifieds

  • ivyholmes on 06/05/2023 - 14:46
    +1

    I bought new xm5 from Ozb, it was in pristine condition. ive never bought any gc here, i dont trust gc with ppl

  • randomusername2017 on 06/05/2023 - 14:50
    +3

    Forum (or similar) where suspected scammers are named as soon as possible.

    Obviously not worth reading the half page of notices at the top of the classifieds…

    As witnessed recently when ash tray was burnt for a massive $20..a dedicated forum is just an invitation to an unverified shit fight.

    have been scammed three times

    You're only just warning others now?
    No details either?

  • mapax on 06/05/2023 - 15:04

    ADAGCHS

    • blitz on 08/05/2023 - 10:52

      ADAGCHS

      Another Day At Gift Card High School?

  • Muzeeb on 06/05/2023 - 15:10
    -4

    These threads are appearing with monotonous regularity. Tempted to report as a dupe.

    • Clear on 06/05/2023 - 15:14
      +8

      I feel like I'm in the wrong industry. I'll sell tumeric powder to cure cancer and "gift cards" to the naive. Forget Bitcoins.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 06/05/2023 - 15:58

      That makes sense. Cheers.

  • Clear on 06/05/2023 - 15:14
    +2

    I can't wait for the day classifieds gets shutdown. There's so many ways to get discounted gift cards and buying off others is the worst way.

    • FireRunner on 07/05/2023 - 16:09

      Gift cards aren't the only thing bought and sold in ozbargain classified.
      Seems a bit crazy to nuke the classified because of a few scams.
      Sad that gift card scams are becoming more prevalent.
      Maybe a ban on gift card transactions in the classified might be in order

      • Clear on 07/05/2023 - 18:41

        I'd say ban gift cards but it seems people are getting PMs offering to buy them so it's outside of classifieds. Perhaps only those who have commented in classifieds are targeted?

    • lddv04 on 07/05/2023 - 17:53

      There's a classified section? Well I never!

  • brendanm on 06/05/2023 - 15:24
    +3

    Gullibility level: 1000

    • Muzeeb on 06/05/2023 - 15:28
      +4

      That's a very generous number.

      • Gunnar on 06/05/2023 - 17:06
        -2

        People getting scammed on gift cards seems to be natural selection at work

  • bobbified on 06/05/2023 - 15:28
    +11

    One thing I don't understand is why people are willing to risk it all to save such a very small percentage in the first place.

    • Clear on 06/05/2023 - 16:10

      Waiting for the next 10% TCN or weekly cashback offer is too long. Why wait when you can save 8% from the classifieds.

      • bobbified on 06/05/2023 - 16:17
        +1

        If you get directly from the business, it's fine. The spending is restricted the T&Cs which is also fine because you know that upfront.

        But if you're throwing money to someone that you don't know and hoping that it comes back with a max benefit of 8%, I'd say that it's a pretty big risk.

        • Clear on 06/05/2023 - 16:18

          You're on the money there. It sounds so ridiculous that you'd buy from someone for so little and yet they still do.

  • lilkid28 on 06/05/2023 - 15:34
    +2

    Agreed, we need a place to name and shame scammers

  • JimmyF on 06/05/2023 - 16:17
    +1

    I Have Been Scammed Buying Gift Cards on OzBargain Multiple Times

    Slow learner? Why do you keep buying then…. Is the saving really that great? Plus you know what they say, if it is too good to be true…..

  • Heaps for Cheaps on 06/05/2023 - 17:13
    +2

    It is sad that the community has people that are outright liars, scammers, thieves, pirates. It happens to any community that becomes big enough.

    It is sad to see those few wreck it for everyone else.

    • Puglife on 06/05/2023 - 17:20
      +16

      Its a community of tight-asses that would exploit their grandmother for a fiver.
      Honestly i'm not surprised.

      • Heaps for Cheaps on 06/05/2023 - 17:22

        Good point tbh.

      • DoctorCalculon on 06/05/2023 - 23:20
        +1

        But what happened to honour amongst thieves tightarses? =P

    • Baysew on 06/05/2023 - 18:26
      +2

      It is sad that the community has people that are outright liars, scammers, thieves, pirates.

      And they are not even the worst.

  • ihbh on 06/05/2023 - 17:56
    +7

    Add poll option: I never guy GCs on OZB classifieds.

  • Bargain2020 on 07/05/2023 - 00:15
    +3

    Reviewing the comments above, I think my biggest mistake was responding to private messages offering to sell me GC’s.
    A second mistake is waiting too long for the GC’s to be delivered (sorry not delivered LOL) without flagging the issue to OzBargain moderators.
    I must admit I was generally very trusting and felt that the OzBargain community were a caring bunch. I’m also very surprised at the very vehement comments that I have received above.
    I might add, that I have saved much more money than I have lost thanks to the OzBargain community.
    I have also been advised by an OzBargain moderator, that they take rapid action to deactivate accounts where a credible scam is reported.
    Thank you for the responses.

    • RockyRaccoon on 07/05/2023 - 07:54
      +4

      I think you really need to become more astute about life.

      Point 1. Makes sense, but point 2 is ridiculous. It makes no difference if its late or "on time", Its not coming. And flagging it with the mods means nothing, other than having the acount flagged.

      Trusting an anonymous community,is also pointless. Look at some of the comments to your post. Some are kind, some are downright scathing. Of the latter some may be trying to wake you up, others just unkind. Which in itself is the issue, why are people making such comments. Its impossible to tell.

      You are correct to advise the Mods, but as you know all they can do it deactivate an account. The scammer can be anywhere in this wide world.

      • scotty on 07/05/2023 - 19:20
        +3

        It's a good idea to notify the moderators when though there's not much we can do other than blocking the account. However when the police come knocking we are able to release some info to them (IPs, email addresses, etc).

    • gromit on 07/05/2023 - 10:47
      +3

      The Ozb community is actually fantastic, the problem you get is with any large good community the scumbags in the community see this as a ripe target. Sadly it is why I don't buy GC's unless it is from someone I know.

    • Protractor on 08/05/2023 - 20:17

      Disagree. Biggest mistake was this thread. For obvious reasons.
      If you ran a poll 'am I gullible" Yes / no or hapless victim, how do you think the votes would be running?

  • Empharand on 07/05/2023 - 00:29
    +3

    Unfortunately this is likely to keep happening as Australia isn't in a great place right now (Inflation, interest rates, housing market crisis, rental crisis, overall cost of living issues etc)

    These are my proposals

    • Introduce a KYC (via trusted KYC screening company) and upon successful KYC then the user gets a 'KYC Verified' badge on their profile, or something that displays when said user lists an item in the classifieds. The only downside is that if that account is hacked, or the account is sold to someone then it can be used to scam more easily due to said badge, however that's up to the AFP to investigate with the original KYC registrant.
    • Remove 'OzBargain Classifieds' completely

    I doubt the people at OzBargain HQ are taking this lightly, and eventually they may be investigated as the classifieds may become a free-for-all for scammers

    At the time of writing this, according to the poll 9/59 people have been scammed atleast once - It's considered low for some but anything above 0 is abysmal in my opinion

    • lachhelix on 07/05/2023 - 03:55
      +2

      Good proposals but to be fair - the classifieds work just fine, people are just too trusting and fall into "bargain traps" for small discounts on large amounts of money most common on gift cards.

      I don't think removing classifieds is the best course of action - it's like lowering speed limits instead of providing better driver training because there are so many accidents - it's an easy "solution" but certainly not the best

      As for KYC - I'd imagine this would mean Ozb then has some kind of legal responsibility (to maintain/confirm) in one way or another - which absolutely shouldn't be the case imo

    • RockyRaccoon on 07/05/2023 - 08:02

      Unfortunately this is likely to keep happening as Australia isn't in a great place right now (Inflation, interest rates, housing market crisis, rental crisis, overall cost of living issues etc)

      Maybe but while that may feel good for your chest, its totally irrelevant. Scammers have been around for centuries and in every country, just different methods of communicating with you.

  • Triceratops on 07/05/2023 - 07:46
    +6

    There's a problem with your poll. There is no option for "I have never bought a gift card on OzBargain" so Never Scammed includes both those who have had 100% success and those that have never bought one.

  • lostgoat on 07/05/2023 - 08:09

    Yes people have been scammed on OZB but it's the small minority .
    But it seem with all the scam forums going up its common place.
    A lot more people have bought or sold a gift card successfully vs Scam transactions .
    The warning is there so pay attention ,
    And yes some more safely checks like photo ID and others could be consider by the site.

  • juzza87 on 07/05/2023 - 08:15
    +2

    Accounts get hacked all the time, someone with a good history can lose their account because they used the same password for everything, and anywhere they can make a post to scam someone the hackers will take advantage. Although not fool-proof, OzB could implement mandatory 2FA for seller accounts meaning bad actors would also need control of the mobile phone or email address. Another option could be to blacklist VPN traffic and international IPs though again, someone sophisticated could get around this.

    Ultimately buyer beware.

    • scotty on 07/05/2023 - 19:16
      +3

      2FA via email is mandatory for those who aren't on token based 2FA, so basically you also need to have your email address hacked.

      We also don't know who are the "sellers" since transactions were done in private messages (sometimes don't even have a Classified listing).

  • Sinnerator on 07/05/2023 - 09:18
    +3

    GC are 99% not worth it EVER
    Do the math

    • lostgoat on 07/05/2023 - 10:24
      +1

      A bit like I've lost around 1K due to non activated or expired gift cards but don't take into account the well into 6 figures they have saved me.
      The 1K lost has well and truly been worth it .

      • ssfps on 07/05/2023 - 12:15
        +4

        6 figures savings from 5-10% giftcard discounts? are you a medium enterprise paying all outgoings via coles giftcards?

      • ihbh on 07/05/2023 - 15:21
        +2

        Surely if you're dealing in that amount of GCs you'd keep a systematic record like an Excel spreadsheet?

        PS: How did you forget?

      • Embaloo on 07/05/2023 - 17:23

        Youve checked if they can be reactivated?

        https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/675206

    • [Deactivated] on 08/05/2023 - 20:01

      Bought one on ebay, seller never sent. Police were involved, she went to court, claimed her sister had gotten access to her ebay password and ripped off several people, suspected it was a lie because a) her sister was underage and the real thief probably realised her sister wouldn't get gaol time/would get leniency, and b) one of the other victims managed to hack her email account and from the emails it was obvious it was her. He's the same guy who started the police action. Judge ordered her to pay everyone back. Police provided her with our phone numbers and she (a women with middle eastern accent) phoned victims to arrange refund/s. I also received a payment from Paypal buyer protection and she had to pay them back too. In the end I made about $10 profit.

  • 2esc on 07/05/2023 - 10:19
    +10

    How many people voted Never been scammed but have never actually bought a giftcard here. Maybe voting option should of had a Never purchased card option.

    Now based on current maybe flawed voting 13% of people have been scammed i feel thats actually high and would be even higher if people voted Never been scammed.

    • pingMarky on 07/05/2023 - 11:39

      Agreed.

      I’ve recent purchased GC from classified (second time) and after $3k or transfers. No issues. I do review every account I trade with

    • Filbert on 07/05/2023 - 13:49

      You are correct. I just unvoted.

      Edit. Bugger, can’t unvote.

  • hopper on 07/05/2023 - 10:48

    One trick i noticed recently is….if you buy a jb giftcard from classifieds….then use it to buy smaller denominations giftcard from JB online again….that way you on safe zone of seller not using them later

    • lostgoat on 07/05/2023 - 11:42

      Surely people are smart enough to only buy what they will use immediately.

  • inthemoney114 on 07/05/2023 - 10:59

    I always sell guft cards here. Never buy them for this exact reason.

  • kinpe on 07/05/2023 - 14:27

    I've sold on there a few times and never had an issue. I'd prob buy on there also if it was for a small amount or from someone that had multiple good reviews of trades.

  • Maxxiz on 07/05/2023 - 15:11
    +1

    To me the risk of this occurring in the hope of saving 50 bucks on a gift card is not worth it.

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