Have read about cases of people getting caught selling/buying points but during pre-covid times. Is it still risky to do so? I've seen many sales on the classifieds recently, involving large amount of points (ie 100k-300k). Sometimes it's even the same Ozbargainers who are buying from different sellers.
How are they doing this without getting busted? How many transfers from 'cousins' before accounts get flagged? Do they have multiple accounts under different names? Or does the seller book tickets for buyer or give them access to their account so points aren't transferred?
All methods i can think of involve a bit of risk (mainly to the buyer unless the seller still has many points after the sale or the buyer is an undercover agent).
Still Risky to Sell Velocity/QFF Points?
BrunoBear on 29/06/2023 - 23:37
Last edited 29/06/2023 - 23:53
Last edited 29/06/2023 - 23:53
Comments
They put a lock on your account and ask you to prove it, and if you don't, they cancel yours (and theirs) points. Simple.
How do you prove family? What document? Family tree?
No idea what they ask for but it has happened to people
It could be as simple as asking you what the other person's full name, date of birth and address are. If they really were your cousin then you should have no problem getting that information.
@capslock: Most people (myself included) wouldn't even know that info for their actual cousins. It would be easy enough to buy/sell points on the proviso that if requested by an airline that info is to be shared.
@eccaz: But if you were transferring points to your cousin then you must be close enough to each other that you can easily ask them for that information.
I doubt that a random from the classifieds section will give that information to you.
@capslock: To get around having their points removed or account suspended I'm sure most will give you that basic information.
Yes, my account was closed after 500,000 point sale. I had to provide proof of the relation. A slightly doctored document reopened my account but won't bother again
lol, yay fraud!
Little bit of fraud never hurt anyone
I've sold millions of points in the last decade, small and large amounts, and never had a problem. Qantas isn't the FBI. And Velocity isn't ASIO.
How can either of them prove that I don't have cousins, uncles and aunties from the four corners of this planet in today's multicultural and globalised Australia?
If yours is a once off sale, you'll be fine. But if you're a nervous Nellie, find a different side hustle.
Once off buy of 5000 points from ozb classifieds and my account got suspended. Let off with points cancellation and a warning.
How exactly were you caught? Surely they wouldn't flag such low amounts.
I don't know. Its the one and only time I've ever tried to buy points. QFF contacted me via email and asked for proof of my relationship to the seller, which I didn't have. At a guess I'd say the seller was the one who was flagged and I got caught up in that.
@Lunarboogie any secret tips on how to get so many points 😎
In the good ole days, credit cards bonuses were common and it was relatively easy to rack up millions of points in a single year. Unfortunately, those days are long behind us.
Cheers
Or does the seller book tickets for buyer or give them access to their account so points aren't transferred?
This is what I did, I gave them access to my account. Doesn't work if you're selling less points than you have in your account and you hve to trust them not to use all of them.
or the buyer is an undercover agent).
Lol
In the past they've had staff trawl gumtree/ebay pretending to be buyers to catch out people selling points/lounge passes. So wouldn't surprise me if some have infiltrated Ozb classifieds.
Really? wow.
Airlines pay people to do this? Where's the benefit to them? How would they justify this expense to shareholders?
How can Qantas prove who your cousins, in-laws or any family are? Hire private investigators? Blood samples?