Someone Used My $250 Giftcards.com.au Gift Card

Saul Goodman on 20/07/2023 - 15:40
Last edited 21/07/2023 - 08:34

End of May there was another 10% off Gift Cards and I bought a few of the $250. I just went to use one and it said available balance $0 with a $250 PayPal transaction going to AGL ENERGY the same day. I'm not with AGL and there were no AGL transactions in my PayPal account.

It's to my companies work emails which are very secure and I'm having a hard time believing my emails were hacked. I looked up the IP history that night and there was nothing unordinary. AGL said there was nothing they could do and would not give me any details on the transaction. Giftcards.com.au also said they won't look into it.

Any theories?

5/31/23, 11:08 PM PAYPAL *AGLENERGYLI - O1001B9B30DD - $250.00
5/31/23, 1:04 AM System - (number) + $250.00

UPDATE

Thanks for the responses. Seeing how popular the discounted gift card deals are on here I never thought they could be so easily compromised.

General Discussion Prepaid Credit/Debit Card

Related Stores

Coles Group & Myer Gift Cards
Coles Group & Myer Gift Cards

Comments

  • hamza23 on 20/07/2023 - 15:49
    +7

    https://www.mybalancenow.com/#/faq

    If you believe someone has made an unauthorized transaction with your Card, or you believe an error has occurred with your Card, please contact us IMMEDIATELY at +61 (07) 5660 6022.

    Give them a call. You aren't responsible for unauthorised transactions on the credit card.

  • WookieMonster on 20/07/2023 - 15:54
    +8

    One theory is that multiple customers were emailed the same gift card when each of them purchased a $250 digital Coles Mastercard gift card. Here is a recent example.

    • Yola on 20/07/2023 - 17:03

      Yes, there were other similar stories, one I recall the spend was to ATO. When they were hacked it was massage parlours, tik tok etc.

    • AustriaBargain on 20/07/2023 - 20:08
      +1

      This is more plausible than a random person guessing the numbers or someone at work browsing emails and pinching the gift card.

      • WookieMonster on 20/07/2023 - 20:17
        +1

        … especially since there were reports of some customers being sent a gift card that was already used before they were actually emailed the gift card!

  • souths123 on 20/07/2023 - 15:55
    +4

    apparently these cards can be hacked and the balance can be gone almost at the same time as you have activated it (by the purchase) A known issue with these types of cards. I try to stay clear of them most of the time. I got a few when they had a good % off via online (digital cards via Coles portal) and used them as soon as I got them. If you do buy any, try to check the balance as soon as you get the card, and then use it ASAP before some low life hacks it and drains the balance.

  • Muzeeb on 20/07/2023 - 16:21
    +2

    ADAGCHS

    AGL said there was nothing they could do and would not give me any details on the transaction.

    Bloody privacy act needs to be reviewed. They know exactly who used it.

    • mapax on 20/07/2023 - 19:07
      +1

      ADAGCHS

      Indeed

  • 7ekn00 on 20/07/2023 - 16:30
    +3

    Giftcards - pretty well known that they are an easy target for fraudulent transactions - it's just a matter of guessing the numbers :/

    Take it as a $250 lesson on how insecure these things actually are :/

    • [Deactivated] on 20/07/2023 - 16:35

      it's just a matter of guessing the numbers

      For reals? Is it side-hustle worth it?

      • 7ekn00 on 20/07/2023 - 16:39
        +1

        Yeah, just find a processor that doesn't ask for CVC (google used to be the prime one), betting AGL does not require it on gift cards either :/

        • WookieMonster on 20/07/2023 - 17:29

          betting AGL does not require it on gift cards either

          What makes you think that? AGL would not have asked for a CVC when someone redeemed OP’s gift card at AGL, because the AGL transaction was done via PayPal (as mentioned in the description a couple of times). PayPal has always asked me to provide a CVC when I have linked a payment card to my PayPal account.

          As an aside, you can have merchants who ask for the CVC, but they do not decline a transaction if the wrong CVC is provided. I have experienced this myself, but I am not going to publicly name examples for obvious reasons.

  • Neoika on 20/07/2023 - 17:42

    15% off Gift Cards

    When?

  • AustriaBargain on 20/07/2023 - 20:07

    You do know that there's probably multiple people at your company that can browse your work emails whenever they want. Why did you send a personal gift card purchase to a work email anyway, if some IT person or manager stole your gift card then you'd have to explain why you are using company resources for personal use which might be awkward for you.

    • plmko on 20/07/2023 - 22:43
      +3

      Imagine being worried about using corporate computers for personal use when your manager committed theft.

  • brendanm on 20/07/2023 - 21:10

    Another one bites the dust. Not sure if $0 for $250 is a good deal.

  • randomusername2017 on 20/07/2023 - 21:50

    AGL said there was nothing they could do and would not give me any details on the transaction

    Better call…

  • trashcan on 21/07/2023 - 12:44
    +1

    Just a raise a dipute by calling +61 (07) 5660 6022. They will send you a form which you will have to fill and send it back to them.
    You will eventually get your funds back as a new card but it may taky anywhere between 2-4 months.

    Do not metion anything about you having a paypal account etc

    Do not delete the original email which had the link to retrieve the card.

  • nlin1 on 16/08/2023 - 08:23

    The same thing happened to me. I filled in the dispute form with Coles mastercard but heard nothing back. At the end, I disputed this transaction with my credit card company (AMEX). I got my money back within a week.

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