Apple Gift Card Scam at Woolworths - $3,300 Hit (Melbourne’s North)

LKingSaiiko on 29/11/2025 - 11:23
Last edited 29/11/2025 - 11:36 by 1 other user

Just wanted to share the absolute horror I experienced on Black Friday yesterday, even though I was aware of this scam floating around but never thought it would happen to me.

Picked up 7 Apple gift cards from a Woolies in Melbourne’s north to make use of the 20x points offer.. 3 were fine, 4 were tampered with. Missing digits, scratch strips replaced, serial numbers scratched off… the full scam. I didn’t redeem any of the cards once I noticed in the carpark.

Went back to Woolies → they said they can’t help, “contact Apple.”
Contacted Apple → they said they can’t help because the serials were tampered.
Now it’s escalated to Woolworths’ Everyday Gifting/Rewards team who said this is a common scam (then why not keep them behind the counters) and asked for all receipts + card photos.

$3,300 is a massive hit and honestly the stress is real.
Posting this so nobody else gets caught up.

Check every single card before you buy, especially Apple ones.
Don’t assume it won’t happen to you like I did. I checked the packaging visually and still got hit.

Will update once Woolies responds, but for now… be careful everyone.

General Discussion Apple Gift Card

Related Stores

Woolworths
Woolworths

Comments

Search through all the comments in this post.
  • life is suffering on 29/11/2025 - 11:27
    +1

    Whats 3300 hit? You bought a card worth that ?

    • KingSaiiko on 29/11/2025 - 11:27
      +2

      6x $500 cards
      1x $300

      Most of them were tampered.

        • KingSaiiko on 30/11/2025 - 16:57
          +1

          I was told to not redeem the possibly ‘working’ 3 cards also. So it’s all hanging on a thin thread.

          • cnrmlj on 01/12/2025 - 09:47

            @KingSaiiko: Keen to understand exactly what happened - did you check them before you bought them and they all looked OK?

      • dealsucker on 30/11/2025 - 21:15
        +7

        Just curious how did you not notice that it was tampered with while buying. I bought a few from woolies as well and its darn hard to tamper now. You have to tear the back of the card to expose the bar code to be able to scan it (a woolies employee had to do that). Once you buy, you then take the card out and scratch it to reveal and redeem the voucher.

        • michaelTito on 01/12/2025 - 00:56
          +6

          I bought over $9000 worth of apple gift card couple of weeks ago from Cole’s over 4 different days and each time the guy/girl behind the counter always check to see if any of the cards are tempered. Guy at OP store need to be trained I think

          • dealsucker on 03/12/2025 - 09:32

            @michaelTito: Not sure if it is even possible unless done at an industrial scale. The packaging itself destroy itself if you try and open it and you cannot repack.

            • michaelTito on 03/12/2025 - 14:56

              @dealsucker: I actually asked the person behind the counter and they said sometime they cut and open the packaging from the front where the gift card is and glue it back.

              • dealsucker on 04/12/2025 - 10:32

                @michaelTito: Have you seen the new packaging? Its literally near impossible to open it without destroying it.

                • braddsey on 04/12/2025 - 19:35

                  @dealsucker: I'm sure scammers can figure it out…

                • michaelTito on 05/12/2025 - 20:34

                  @dealsucker: I looked into it and appearently with a razor sharpe knife you can slide open the front and then glue it back.

      • RTX9090Ti on 02/12/2025 - 13:40

        to pay ATO amirite?

  • Chopstix on 29/11/2025 - 11:29
    +12

    Thanks for the reminder. It's easy to get caught up in all the potential savings and forget about the risk. Happened to me with those coles mastercard gift cards. I just steer away from most gift cards now.. Hope it gets resolved for you somehow.

    • Wombiethezombie on 29/11/2025 - 12:22
      +34

      there really shouldn't be a risk if they're being sold. Imagine buying food and not being sure if it was tampered with or not. It's pretty terrible that they're allowed to continue selling them tbqh. i.e. Woolies is taking real money, in exchange for fake goods.

    • V2L on 30/11/2025 - 09:32
      +8

      I rarely take up gift card offers now for this reason unless I have a specific purchase to use straight away - not so much scams but the time and mental load involved keeping track of gift cards is not worth the 5-10% off

  • theHMASfriendship on 29/11/2025 - 11:46
    +18

    The relentless pursuit of bargains is compelling yet fraught with gift card horror stories.

    I will pray to JV for a speedy resolution

    • serpserpserp on 29/11/2025 - 14:28
      +1

      Only the almighty can help us now….

  • mapax on 29/11/2025 - 11:59
    +13

    ADAGCHS

    @MS Paint I’m starting to sweat, at this rate it is going to hit 7 before midnight tomorrow.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 29/11/2025 - 12:09
      +2

      ADAGCHS - Ctrl + V

    • MS Paint on 29/11/2025 - 12:43
      +5

      All this just to get some points for a free toaster in 2 years time. FFS.

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 29/11/2025 - 12:50
        +7

        Due to inflation that toaster will be downgraded to commemorative jv postcard

      • nosey on 30/11/2025 - 09:23
        +3

        MS Paint I hope you enjoy your xmas break. All your recent comments are ending in FFS. You need a rest :)

        • MS Paint on 30/11/2025 - 09:38
          +9

          Cheers. FFS

  • holdenmg on 29/11/2025 - 13:05
    +1

    OP thanks for posting. :+)

  • nosrad on 29/11/2025 - 13:06
    -1

    Missing digits under the scratch thing? I wonder whether you can charge back your gift card.

  • dimavs on 29/11/2025 - 14:08
    -6

    It’s not an in store scam, those cards got scammed on an Apple production line. I had a horrible experience with Cole’s cards a year ago and would never buy apples gift cards in store.

    • speedoflight on 29/11/2025 - 20:25
      +1

      How does the scam work if it was tampered with on the production line?

      • Fysh on 01/12/2025 - 11:46
        +4

        The scammers had an insider copy the serials and pins at production. They then use a bot to check for value , once activated it raids the value on the cards leaving you with nothing.

  • AndyC1 on 29/11/2025 - 14:26
    -2

    Even though OP knew about the tampering scam, op did not check.

    Rookie newbie OZB account mistake. "Member Since 3 hours 8 min"

  • bcarp on 29/11/2025 - 16:34
    +6

    Don't the cards need to be activated at the checkout? Or is that only certain gift cards? I vaguely remember the old iTunes gift cards needing activation.

    • Deridas on 29/11/2025 - 19:06

      That's what I thought, had that changed nowadays?

    • chrisby on 29/11/2025 - 19:46
      +16

      Yes they do still get activated at the checkout. But when you go to redeem, the code is missing the last digit or two so it doesn't work. People take the unactivated gift card, tamper with it to get inside carefully so it's not detectable, scratch and get the code, remove the last digit or two, replace the scratch off layer, put the unactivated gift card back on the shelf.
      Then after you activate the gift card at the checkout, they redeem it.

      • MS Paint on 29/11/2025 - 20:38
        +3

        Do not redeem sir

        • InfiniteWee on 02/12/2025 - 11:08
          +2

          I think you're meant to scream it

          "DO NOT REDEEM"

      • Deridas on 30/11/2025 - 01:37
        +5

        Wow, that's nuts. Thanks for the explanation. The skill/technology/ability to remove digits, and replace the scratch-off layer.
        In the era of eGift cards nowadays physical Gift Cards sound like it really should go out the door…

      • McFly on 30/11/2025 - 12:36
        +2

        They're doing all that in the supermarket?

      • idonotknowwhy on 30/11/2025 - 16:51

        Thank you for explaining, I wouldn't have thought of that!

      • zfind on 01/12/2025 - 01:00
        +9

        So they're sitting at home with a list of stolen of serials entering them over and over again into the Apple redeem page? I mean, you can script it but far out.

        Just lock the cards behind the counter and have dummies out on the racks, this shouldn't even be an issue. Or even better just exchange a dummy card for a one-time code generated at the checkout and printed out on a receipt? Not sexy for a gift card but who cares.

      • kl2999 on 03/12/2025 - 13:24

        That's nut, they should put all GC in the same cabinet as the ciggies are and only those pay on the spot gets activated, and no refund.

  • madmo on 29/11/2025 - 18:24
    +13

    They should really store high value gc at the counter. Sorry to hear, hope they resolve it for you

    • whyisave on 30/11/2025 - 10:22
      -5

      They should really store high value gc at the counter.

      Maybe Gift Cards need to be treated with the seriousness of treating money and sold in an entirely different kind of shop now, like a Gift Card Bank, with CCTV cameras, license checks, etc.

      All kinds of Gift Cards would be sitting behind a secure glass vault, and after providing all your IDs, money, etc…you get the goods.

      If there was tampering or fakery, you would then know, it was the Gift Card Bank staff.

      I mean, the way I read these descriptions of the posts here, it sounds like there could be savvy staff working in pairs, working inside the store (with time and access to private rooms), and facilitating these shenanigans.

      • TheFreaK on 02/12/2025 - 10:52
        +1

        Yeah mate can't wait to have to show my ID in order to buy a giftcard

    • quick-dry on 01/12/2025 - 00:09

      most coles seem to keep the apple cards behind the counter at the service desk now, whereas woolies don't.

      • kalithreaver on 01/12/2025 - 12:36
        +1

        not the couple of coles i go to. maybe its in areas with high scams.

        • Poor Ass on 01/12/2025 - 13:05
          +1

          pretty sure it's a factory level because it's happening all over Australia not just some stores

      • Poor Ass on 01/12/2025 - 13:04

        some woolies I know keep it behind the counter as well every store is different

  • chrisby on 29/11/2025 - 19:50
    +3

    Sorry for the stress. But it's a well-known issue - I haven't bought an Apple Gift Card in years in-store because it's not worth the risk. I encourage everyone I know not to do so. Even 10% off, it's not worth the risk (and stress). I just grab Apple eGift Cards for 5% off from my health insurance provider instead, they come through by email like 2-3 minutes later, and zero risk of losing your money to the scum that do this stuff.

    • zfind on 01/12/2025 - 01:02
      -1

      Or just tell the cashier before you buy "there's problems with these being scammed, can you refund me if I open this and find it's been tampered with?" then do so and redeem in front of them. I've never had an issue at the Woolworths I go to, they know the score.

      • Maxxjet on 01/12/2025 - 10:42
        +1

        like you did encounter the tampered cards, and because of what you said and did in front of their staff, they refunded you? Or it never happened to be tampered cards you bought?

        • zfind on 01/12/2025 - 11:58
          +1

          As in they agreed to the plan which included me saying I’d want it sorted out if there’s a problem. So I just stepped to the side, redeemed, confirmed all was ok and left. Haven’t come across any tampered cards

      • TheFreaK on 02/12/2025 - 10:53
        +2

        That is not within the power of the cashier

  • Nutrino on 29/11/2025 - 21:05
    +7

    Plenty of videos on youtube where scammers go into walmart and place tampered giftcards on the shelves (they bring in the tampered ones).

  • DingoBilly on 29/11/2025 - 23:49
    -8

    These gift cards just aren't worth buying.

    You're saving maybe 5% but seems high risk.

    Also, if you just skipped Apple products you'd easily save at least 20% and get a comparable product.

    • cnrmlj on 30/11/2025 - 07:13
      +1

      Each to there own.

      The saving is significantly more than 10% if you use the points on classic rewards.

      Personally, i tried the "comparable product" and was fairly unimpressed.

  • cnrmlj on 30/11/2025 - 07:16

    I don't understand how you can get scammed on these. This is not a new problem.

    I bought some a few weeks ago for a new iPhone. I checked each one before i bought them. They all looked fine. I bought them. I went outside the store and loaded them to my account straight away.

    I bought a few more this week and did the same thing. No issues.

    Keen to understand exactly what happened - did you check them before you bought them and they all looked OK?

    • kalithreaver on 01/12/2025 - 12:37

      what do you need to look out for?

      • cnrmlj on 01/12/2025 - 14:42

        I look to see that it hasn't been opened or tampered with. I would have thought it's obvious if you look carefully that it has been but happy to be corrected which is why i have asked the OP multiple times if he did. No response so assuming he didn't look.

    • wetsandwich on 01/12/2025 - 13:47
      +2

      Imagine having to know about a specific scam, then check the product just to maybe get what you paid for.. I don't think this is something to victim blame. The product should be altered so you can't get scammed at all. Make it digital or something where a physical barcode/number/code can't be tampered with.

  • Jac33au on 30/11/2025 - 08:05
    +2

    What do you even use that many apple cards for? Genuine question as I'm not in that ecosystem. Apart from paying the ATO for back taxes of course.

    • holdenmg on 30/11/2025 - 09:09
      +2

      A fully tricked out MacBook Pro probably.

      I wonder how much Tax Apple pay the ATO and if they use Apple Cards to do so… lol

      • whyisave on 30/11/2025 - 10:30

        Maybe there is something about Gift Cards we don't know, about why companies like issuing them.

        I mean, companies love gift cards, because they know statistically, not all "sales" will be redeemed, so that is the gamble companies take, in improving their profits.

        However, I wonder if there is some kind of tax avoidance, eg. if you bought a card this financial year, but if you do not redeem into the next financial year, does that mean…there is a deferred tax liability for the company as the "goods / services" were not rendered until the 'other year'?

        I am just thinking aloud.

        • TheFreaK on 02/12/2025 - 10:54
          +2

          It's not a "gamble" for them at all, a giftcard is more valuable than cash to them as it's at worst a guaranteed sale

          • snapper17 on 02/12/2025 - 23:17

            @TheFreaK: Also they have your money upfront. They can use it to invest or for research and development. A dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow.

    • username1 on 30/11/2025 - 12:34
      +2

      You can buy anything from apple using gift cards. Hardware, software, subscriptions, purchases through apps, etc.

      People buy gift cards when there are reward points bonus deals. You get a bunch of points and then use the gift cards to buy something you were going to buy anyway (eg. a laptop, phone, subscriptions, whatever).

    • zfind on 01/12/2025 - 01:03

      Not to the level OP is spending but 10% off for subscriptions I'm paying for regardless (Apple music) why leave money on the table?

  • mrvaluepack on 30/11/2025 - 08:54
    +5

    Do you a picture how tampered and untampered cards look like?

    • 1morphine1 on 01/12/2025 - 12:40
      +4

      they both look the same on the outside, the tab that covers serial code is intact at the store, you wouldn't notice anything.

      however, in my case, the last 2 digit of the redeem code under the scratchy is being stratched off. So you will only have 14 instead of 16 digit code.

  • RealtimeY on 30/11/2025 - 14:03

    Apple support did have a (slow) process to deal with damaged/missing digit gift cards when I had this problem.

  • ViridianRogue on 30/11/2025 - 15:10

    This happened to me with a Steam card I got as a present, the fix was basically valve giving me the code though.

    • KingSaiiko on 30/11/2025 - 16:55
      +1

      Apple was willing to resolve the issue till we realised the serial numbers were also tampered with on the other side of the card. The scammers know what they are doing it seems.

      • charmiesushi on 30/11/2025 - 22:40
        +1

        How did it go for you? I’m going through the same issue and found your comment. I just noticed the last few digits of the serial numbers were scratched off too.

        Went to Woolies and they wouldn’t do anything about it. And it is too late to contact Apple now

  • mreddie on 30/11/2025 - 18:51
    +3

    Don't buy the physical ones, I only ever get the digital ones now….too many scams in store

  • CalmLemons on 01/12/2025 - 01:31

    This why they stopped selling amazon gift cards?

  • Kiro on 01/12/2025 - 19:25
    -1

    Robux still good?

  • TightLikeThisx on 01/12/2025 - 19:51
    +1

    I don't understand why the stores just keep dummies on the shelf then replace them with the real deal when they need to authorize the sale at the checkout.

    • Muppet Detector on 01/12/2025 - 20:17
      +1

      I am wondering if the stores actually own the gift cards or if they are there and placed by merchandisers from other companies.

      Example, hallmark cards and sands cards are never owned by the store, just provided room for the companies to display their goods for sale. Would be many other examples of this.

      Otherwise, I cannot think of why the stores can refuse to replace or refund if you get a dodgy one.

      And some of those display stands must have 100 odd different varieties of gift card. May be difficult to stock those "behind the service desk" if not legally required (like smokes).

      • Metre on 02/12/2025 - 03:13

        Brands rent out the display area would think. Like all the telcos do, a runner will check the display refill/every other week.

      • TightLikeThisx on 02/12/2025 - 20:14

        That would make sense.

        The supermarket is making money and doing no work so they DGAF.

        Maybe we should start a movement of taking the cards off the display and hiding them in the store. This way the card people and the supermarket will be motivated to physically secure them once they realise they are regularly restocking the shelf but making no sales.

  • fifoo on 01/12/2025 - 20:03
    +4

    Went through something similar few months ago. Call Apple support or raise a case online. When you speak to them, provide all card serial numbers (not the scratch off part) and ask them to block them. So no one can use them.

    The scam which I’m sure you’ve figured out is that someone has the code and they will try to use it periodically in hopes that someone has paid for the card and it’s activated. The longer yo you hold on to them and more chance of loosing money.

    Apple support can provide last three digits of the code after purchase verification and an additional fourth via level 2 support.

    Sorry for what you are going through. Best of luck.

  • kaleidoscope on 01/12/2025 - 21:54

    For such large purchase would have been more attentive OP. Hope you’ll get things sorted.

    I usually redeem apple gcs on the spot after purchase.

  • Roe Jogan on 02/12/2025 - 09:54

    DONT REDEEM IT!!!

  • Gradesbrah on 02/12/2025 - 11:02
    +2

    Not sure the pile on of criticism is necessary.

    Personally I redeem at the register. If they don’t work I take them to the service desk never leaving the store.

    Yeh, looks crazy but buying $5k of gift cards is already crazy.

  • effgee on 02/12/2025 - 14:07
    +1

    Naive question: what does one do with $3300 worth of apple gift cards ?

    • KingSaiiko on 02/12/2025 - 15:24
      +3

      Towards a new Mac, basically secured a $330 Woolworths shopping voucher with the 20x points offer on Apple Card’s.

  • sleet on 02/12/2025 - 14:34
    +1

    I was watchina a video about these scams. The scammer will take the cards, record the numbers and pins etc and return it to the shelf. Then when a unsuspecting purchaser buys these cards, money is loaded at checkout. They then go home or gift it. Meanwhile the scammer has all the digits needed and know when it's loaded and take the money out before the purchaser even realises.

    So yes, you do need to check that the giftcards are not tampered with in any way shape or form.

  • Worf on 02/12/2025 - 19:35

    Thanks for the PSA, and sorry to hear about your experience. It’s so stressful getting scammed.

    I gifted a ‘Teen’ gift card for my niece last year. I later saw a YouTube video showing they are easily hacked due to poor security features. It went over my head. Luckily my niece redeemed it without issue. This year I’ll be gifting her cash.

  • 11112007 on 02/12/2025 - 21:13
    +1

    Also from the (Inner) North, DO NOT buy any Apple gift cards around the Preston/Coburg/Essendon area. Ive come across (and reported to store mangement) a ton of tamperered Apple gift cards at both Coles and Woolies across the region.

  • braddsey on 02/12/2025 - 21:36
    +3

    It’s not just apple gift cards. My mum and her pensioner buddies at the retirement community all chipped in to buy a $250 eftpos giftcard as a gift (purchased from Colesworth). When the recipient opened it the last 4 digits of the code on the front of the card were scratched off, as was the pin foil. No help from Colesworth, they had to call the giftcard company helpline.
    The card packaging was sealed.

    After an investigation, they were given the money back.

    Likely purchased from Greensborough or St Helena in the last couple of weeks.

  • payless69 on 03/12/2025 - 08:35
    -1

    Member Since
    29/11/2025

    maybe scratching the wrong idea?

  • lunartemis on 03/12/2025 - 11:05

    I don't understand why supermarkets don't have some sort of exchange system at the counter, where you take a token and a store person would exchange it once at the checkout.

    • JSONBourne on 03/12/2025 - 11:41
      +1

      They should give you a digital print out of the voucher. The voucher on the shelf should just be a dummy.

      • lunartemis on 03/12/2025 - 12:48
        +2

        That works better - just like the prepaid mobile topup

        • JSONBourne on 03/12/2025 - 12:58

          Exactly right. Much safer.

  • ifyareckon on 03/12/2025 - 14:29
    +1

    If worried and unsure if cards have been tampered with, ask the staff at the service desk if they are able to check for new cards inside the gift card stand. The gift card stand normally opens up to keep all of the cards as delivered to the store and not yet on display. Less chance (hopefully) of the dodgy cards being inside the stand.

  • cryptos on 04/12/2025 - 09:56
    +1

    Most people would be naive to this scam, the onus should really be on the seller and producer of the gift cards to ensure their product hasn’t been tampered with or is tamper proof..

    Cigarettes aren’t on the shelf’s, put them there but with pictures

    • Muppet Detector on 04/12/2025 - 12:08

      I can think of a reason why a store may not be able to ensure a product hasn't been tampered with or is tamper proof.

      How tamper proof is an apple or any other item in a supermarket?

      Even a sealed container/package is not resistant to tampering. Plenty of episodes of food tampering in the past, wasn't there people finding needles in their strawberries or grapes a while back?

      The recent asbestos in the coloured sand. How could any store have been aware of that in advance and I am positive that there are multiple recalls happening all the time on food and non perishable items.

      Cigarettes are behind a counter because they are required to be hidden from public view. The goal is to make people consciously ask for them rather than impulse buy and make it so they're not considered a normal part of life. Display, availability and advertisement of cigarettes is more strict than alcohol or gambling products.

      How many items can a store be expected to "keep behind the counter"? If a merchandiser couldn't display their type, how many gift card varieties would a store continue to carry? Those stands in supermarkets etc, must carry/display more than 100 different types.

      Manufacturer to package them in metal cases welded shut?

      Store to keep them in those hard plastic boxes opened at checkout by staff?

      Individual sealed foil packages like Pokemon cards?

      Idk, those solutions rely on the manufacturer, not the seller.

      What I don't understand though is how whomever sells them is not responsible for rectifying dodgy ones. Every other thing I can think of, under ACL, the seller has the onus of fixing the problem and then deal with manufacturer for any reimbursement/remedy owed to them as a result.

      Why is it store can say, "yes, you did buy that Apple Card here and it really sux that it's broken, but you need to contact Apple to fix it".

      I can understand why it is not practical to require a gift card to be activated at purchase. The idea is that they are a gift card, ergo, buyer is apparently giving them to somebody else, the intention isn't that the buyer is to use them straight away. What, we need to legislate that gift cards must be given to their recipient immediately?

      I can see that leading to becoming

      (I) illegal to buy a gift card for yourself, though I suppose you are allowed to buy yourself a gift.

      (iI) prohibited to offer them at discounted prices to discourage their use by the buyer => lead to making them less attractive.

      (iii) limits to how they can be redeemed including association with other awards programs.

      (iv) each store only selling the type of card attributed to their store => Woolworths only store Woolworths cards, Apple only sell Apple Card's. So where would the generic Mastercard type gift cards fit in that are pretty much redeemable from anywhere?

      Too much regulation, particularly at the store level, will increase the cost for someone along the supply chain, whether that be the manufacturer, seller or buyer, idk.

      My only experience with gift cards is I've purchased the odd Mastercard one from the post office as they were gifts I intended to post in lieu of cheques. Post Office does keep them behind the counter, but they didn't seem to have a very big selection or variety from which to choose. I couldn't even confirm if they offered specific ones or just the generic Mastercard type ones.

      Currently, most (not all) gift cards must have a three year window within which to spend them. I'm not sure if this is from date of purchase or date of activation though.

      Date of purchase makes most logical sense to me, so if that's the case, automatic digital activation at the POS should be easy enough to create the relevant software etc to organise.

      If it's date of activation, that gets trickier, I think, but I'm not sure what is involved in actually activating them, so maybe not /:

      Seems to me, if card is activated before I post it, if it gets lost on the way (how would you even prove the intended recipient never received it?) whatever it is worth is lost, it may as well be cash.

      At least if activation is made by recipient, if lost on the way, there is an opportunity to cancel the card before it becomes "live", isn't there? And get another card reissued?

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join