Gift card scams

[x174]

I keep getting solicitations from women (supposedly) on Skype and a few other places. They seem to be running one of three scams: I'm starving, I need a husband, or I'm offering "services."
I'm smart enough not to send money or give card numbers, but I've run into a weird one twice now. The person says they're nearby, gives a valid address, and says bring a gift card for services.
Other than the fact that they're asking for a gift card, this could be on the up and up, right? I hand over the payment, and they perform the services--- nothing unusual about that.
Has anybody ever had a gift card meeting actually work out?

 

[kantuchdis]

Its a scam - don't do it - after you park your car they will tell you to take a photo of the front and back of the card and send it before they give the exact address. You will then sit in your car till you realize you've been duped.

 

[Argon]

Agree with @kantuchdis. Exactly as he described. I almost got snagged in one of these. They still advertise on RubMD in Philly. Thankfully the card doesn’t expire. I’ll use it at some point on something legitimate.

 

[kantuchdis]

Better check the balance on that card - if you sent them the picture of the card they can drain it in a flash.

 

[x174]

I get that it's a scam. I just can't figure out how they scam you if I don't give up the card until I see the girl. I'm not going to do it either way

 

[casualplayer]

That's the whole point - they won't see you until you send pictures of the card.

 

[x174]

I'm not even sure they're there...

 

[kantuchdis]

There are hundreds of evil people around the world trolling for people to scam them. Correct, there is NO girl anywhere near the location they told you to park, it's just part of the ruse. They do not need the physical card in order to extract the dollar amount loaded on it, they simply need the precise numbers on the front and back. The photo they insist you send provides that. They will say they do not want cash, weird. They say they must see proof of the gift card before they see you, um, ok.

If you sent the photos of the card they insisted on, the card is drained of it's value and worthless. If it still has money loaded, you are lucky. Likely scenario is Vlad the Scammer in Estonia had so many dupes that day he could not execute all of the transactions before he died laughing.