Gift card scam, or why is Dytch so cynical?

[Dytchdoctir]

I might have fallen for this one if not for CS.com

I went to Best of Buy yesterday to get a replacement charger for my laptop. I was looking over the DVDs when a seedy looking guy approached me.

SC: Are you planning to pay with cash?

Instant red alert. My hand checked my pocket to make sure the wallet was still there, and then stayed there to ward off a possible pickpocket accomplice.

In retrospect, I wish I would have said something to the effect of, "Why do you think it's any of your effing business?!"

Instead, I am sad to say I just replied, "No."

SC: Well, I have this gift card that I bought here, but I. . . "

Dytch: Let me guess. You want to sell me your gift card.

SC:

Dytch: For cash, but less than the amount the card is worth.

SC:

Dytch: And I get to use the gift card for the full amount, so we both get something.

SC: Yeah, I need the cash for gas and. . .

Dytch: Nice try. And I walk away.

I went to the next aisle, told two employees what the SC had said, and pointed him out. They thanked me, and said they would keep an eye on him. I assume they are not allowed to confront him.

Too bad. I was in a bad mood because of certain family issues, and I really wanted to see him ejected from the store, or maybe even arrested when the gift card turns out to be possibly stolen and certainly not activated. Yes, I'm not very nice sometimes.

[Merriweather]

Instant red alert. My hand checked my pocket to make sure the wallet was still there, and then stayed there to ward off a possible pickpocket accomplice.

.

Sorry to thread-jack, but this SO reminded me of something that for some reason has always made me laugh a bit.

When we lived in the UK, I remember reading about a major campaign against pickpocketing that had been done before we moved there. Seems the problem had gotten so bad in metropolitan areas, the police decided what was needed was to make people more aware when in crowds, so they put up large billboards at tube and train stations, etc. saying "do you know where your wallet is?", in the premise people would be more on the lookout for pick pockets then. Turned out, the pick pockets would purposely hang about near the signs, as most people seeing the sign would instinctively pat their back pocket/jacket pocket/ etc. to be sure their wallet was there - giving hte pickpocket a nice, defined target for that individual and making the picking ever so much easier after that, LOL.

Needless to say, the campaign was abandoned and all signs taken down rather sooner than plannned.

And back to your regularly scheduled thread, with my apologies for going off-track.

[Dytchdoctir]

Oddly enough, Merriweather, I had similar thoughts when I originally posted.

I recalled a scene from a science fiction novel (City of Baraboo, by Barry B. Longyear available at http://www.amazon.com/City-Baraboo-B.../dp/0595121209) in which a character is traveling with an interplanetary circus show, and writing a history of same. In chapter 4, "The Slick Gentlemen" he meets con-artists known as "grifters" who explain to him how pick-pocketing is accomplished.

The head grifter waits for the associate grifters to scatter throughout the crowd, and then stands up and announces to the mob that pickpockets have been spotted, and all patrons please make sure their valuables are safe. As in your post, the pickpockets are watching for defined targets, and instantly go to work.

Hah! Jacked my own thread!

[Dasota]

My instant reaction to that person that wanted to sell their gift card would be to ask if they minded going up to the registers to check to see what the amount is on the card. If they say no, oh well. If they say sure, then I might be inclined to help them.

[FenigDurak]

My ex did that, asked the guy to have the balance checked. He declined and we reported him to the manager.

[Hobbs]

In chapter 4, "The Slick Gentlemen" he meets con-artists known as "grifters" who explain to him how pick-pocketing is accomplished.

Grifter is a synonym for con-artist/pickpocket, fyi. I dunno if you knew that...

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I seem to recall a similar scam last year involving our gift cards. I'll go back and search for the specific thread later when I have time.

[Andara Bledin]

Seems the problem had gotten so bad in metropolitan areas, the police decided what was needed was to make people more aware when in crowds, so they put up large billboards at tube and train stations, etc. saying "do you know where your wallet is?", in the premise people would be more on the lookout for pick pockets then. Turned out, the pick pockets would purposely hang about near the signs, as most people seeing the sign would instinctively pat their back pocket/jacket pocket/ etc. to be sure their wallet was there - giving hte pickpocket a nice, defined target for that individual and making the picking ever so much easier after that, LOL.

That's like the campaign that was to make people aware that they shouldn't leave valuables within sight inside their cars that left little cards on the windows of said cars.

Needless to say, all cars with such cards became prime targets.

^-.-^