I Have Been Scammed Buying Gift Cards on OzBargain Multiple Times

Bargain2020 on 06/05/2023 - 14:06
Last edited 24/05/2023 - 17:44 by 1 other user

Hi Everybody,
I hope I don’t get in trouble for posting this.

I’m very concerned about the number of times I have been scammed on OzBargain when buying Gift Cards. And of course I want to keep using OzBargain for this purpose and others. Yes, I know. Buyer beware. But I always look at the history of somebody and how long they have been using OzBargain.

I have been scammed three times. Once when the seller reused the GC; and twice when I never got the GC’s.

I’m wondering how common this is, and hence the poll. I’m also interested in any recommendations to minimize the risk of this, in particular.

My recommendation is that OzBargain have a Forum (or similar) where suspected scammers are named as soon as possible. When I reported the most recent scam to OzBargain, the moderator reported back to me that three other people had already reported the same person. The obvious question is, how do we let everybody know as quickly as possible.

Interested in any ideas.

Poll Options expired

  • 8
    Scammed Three Or More Times
  • 4
    Scammed Twice
  • 26
    Scammed Once
  • 393
    Never Scammed.
Site Discussion Gift Card

Comments

  • Chewy2221 on 07/05/2023 - 15:55
    +1

    Good luck, but I suspect that you are buying stolen or non-existent gift cards.

  • virhlpool on 07/05/2023 - 16:03

    Never got scammed buying GC but got scammed buying a shared VOD subscription once. Not sure what the person achieved with $30 scam revenue (and possibly similar amount from a few others).

  • umoddbro on 07/05/2023 - 17:16
    +3

    You're risking your hard earned money for a saving of 5-10%… not worth it. I only ever buy giftcards through cashbacks/discounted giftcard portals, the stress just isnt worth it to me. If I ever do risk buying a giftcard on here the person should at least have posted some deals or be an active commenter etc.

  • So Was Red on 07/05/2023 - 17:22

    When looking for deals on gift cards I ended up checking classified listings for GCs but didn't have the risk appentite for it, thanks for confirming my fears of potentials scammers!

  • DarkOz on 07/05/2023 - 18:59
    +2

    OP: I have been scammed.
    OZB: Sorry to hear that.
    .
    OP: I have been scammed again.
    OZB: Oh…but we don't care anymore.
    .
    OP: I have been scammed 3 times!
    OZB: You deserved it.

    • Protractor on 08/05/2023 - 20:23

      OP: I stuck my head in a fire
      OZB: Why?

      (OK you know the rest)

      This thread is why gambling is such lucrative business.

  • kaleidoscope on 07/05/2023 - 20:58

    beware. But I always look at the history of somebody and how long they have been using OzBargain.

    Might also help to look into specific posts about the person having shared gcs in past and their feedbacks. Usually there are classified posts. If user is new to doing gcs i’d only do face to face transaction or move on.

  • nightmarez3k on 07/05/2023 - 21:47
    +1

    Don't buy as too afraid to be scammed…

    Marginal gains buying giftcards from others. Save other ways. An extra 1 or 2 percent ain't worth losing 100 percent.

  • ahara on 08/05/2023 - 00:00

    If I bought gift cards via classifies I’d deal in person and at store/location where gift card is to be used.

    Handing over cash to seller while paying for my purchase with GC.

    Anything else too risky in this modern times of deceit left right and center.

  • SillySorjai on 08/05/2023 - 00:41
    +2

    Mate… You're on the wrong forum. This is OzB, not OzGullible.

    Anyway you have my sympathy…

    Also send me a PM, I have an unbeatable GC deal for you. Only $500 for a $1000 TCN GC + 3 pack condoms + KY gel for the backdoor.

    3 time only offer!

    • Bargain2020 on 08/05/2023 - 08:01

      Ha, ha. Very funny. I am far from gullible. Unfortunately we have some very untrustworthy people on OzBargain. And fxxxing rude. And I hope OzBargain can somehow make the site safer for everybody.

      • HangryCakeStore on 08/05/2023 - 09:00

        Can you paste the link, the profile that scammed you

      • SillySorjai on 08/05/2023 - 22:40
        +2

        Haha sorry mate, these jokes are at your expense.

        Between you (the victim) and the scammer, you're the only one that we can communicate to directly so just take the harsh comments you get here on the forum as advice.

        There's alot of scum out there. I recognise you've reached out with best intentions to protect other OzB members

        Hope you have a more positive experience on this site in the future :)

  • Motek Benzona on 08/05/2023 - 08:05

    I have bought a couple of cards on here with no probs
    I have also sold on here with no Probs

    My shared subs seem to work out ok as well.

    I've only ever been scammed once online, way back in the early days of Ebay and i do a fair bit of online trade buying or selling and used to have an ebay business. Maybe i am just lucky? Maybe it's my bikie connections? I dunno….

  • UltimateAI on 08/05/2023 - 08:52
    +1

    Unprotected sex with strangers is risky.

  • lilkid28 on 08/05/2023 - 10:22

    OP, name and shame the scammer

  • trapper on 08/05/2023 - 11:18
    +1

    I’m very concerned about the number of times I have been scammed on OzBargain when buying Gift Cards.

    Maybe there's a lesson in there?

  • RIPwallet on 08/05/2023 - 11:34

    I've bought and sold here with no issues here. Even have an ongoing shared sub for the past 3 years.

    But i do agree a page to name and shame scammers or a feedback page for each member is a good idea.

  • Ten on 08/05/2023 - 12:32

    I find it interesting that the forum menu has it listed as "Classified" yet I don't seem to need any kind of verification to access the classified area

    • Bargain2020 on 08/05/2023 - 15:31

      Maybe you have hit on a good idea. Maybe we should have “Classifieds For Trusted OzBargainers”.

      • Bargain2020 on 08/05/2023 - 15:34

        Maybe trusted OzBargainers could form a Forum of some sort to sell and buy GC’s.

  • Top G on 08/05/2023 - 12:46

    Never scammed because why would you try to save 5-10% on a gift card purchase.

    • I like freestuff on 08/05/2023 - 14:47

      To save $500 on some 5k TV at JB.

    • Bargain2020 on 08/05/2023 - 15:33

      Because I have been successful with 1000’s of dollars of GC transactions saving around 10% plus.
      But you are right. It’s now getting riskier.

      • Protractor on 08/05/2023 - 20:25

        So you are in front. Nothing lost?

  • Bargain2020 on 08/05/2023 - 15:36

    I wonder who edited my post and added “Never Scammed”??????????

  • whitepuma on 08/05/2023 - 22:17

    never scammed….but also, i never buy gift cards from other people

  • jackking on 08/05/2023 - 23:59

    I think it is a good idea to maybe have some sort of profile review where we know some trusted ozbargain profiles to trade with (maybe ability to leave reviews or something) and a forum where we can see a list of scammers where we can cross reference before trading.

  • Korban Dallas on 09/05/2023 - 01:50
    +3

    Poll is skewed. Never scammed should be broken up between used classifieds never scammed and never used classifieds

  • Moderatorhamza23 on 09/05/2023 - 08:45

    To clear up some comments/misunderstandings from within this thread:

    (1) Rating System - As we have stated previously, and have advised the OP, a rating system has little benefit. If a member reports a scam, the member's classified posting ability is blocked (if the situation is resolved, then the block is removed), if they haven't themselves already deactivated their account. You are best to report the user to the mods, so we can block their access immediately to stop them causing any more damage.

    (2) Compromised Accounts - In regards to 'compromised accounts', we have mandatory 2FA in place for over a year now, in response to this. This stops your OzBargain account being accessed, if you use the same password on OzBargain, as you did on another site which was compromised. As mentioned earlier by scotty.

    (3) Ghost Access/Classifieds Access Restrictions - In regards to classified access and ghost accounts. Using classifieds is already restricted, members have to be older than 1 year old and accessing OzBargain within Australia. As per the classified guidelines.

    (4) People trading outside of classifieds - Having said all that, I would also note that the word 'classifieds' is not mentioned in the post. We cannot stop people private messaging each other over periods of time and trading outside of the classifieds. As mentioned in the other post about this, here.

    (5) Naming & Shaming - Finally, please see the classified notices in regards to specific notices regarding particular users of the past. Whilst these are no longer current, they may return in the future. This was done in extreme circumstances, for example where blocked/banned users returned with other account(s) and there was a need to pre-warn.

    These recent instances of active and long standing OzBargain members, suddenly taking someone's money or similar, without warning, may be a sign of the current economic times.

  • Heaps for Cheaps on 10/05/2023 - 05:30
    -2

    Known scammers should have to have their account restricted to only allow access to CheapCheapLah

  • spaiydz on 12/05/2023 - 15:47

    I've bought $2000+ over the years. Once a $500 @ 10% off transaction from a low poster that worked, but in hindsight was outside my risk tolerance.

    I've been lucky to say the least, and only buy from repeat sellers (although that approach isn't full proof either)

  • bamzero on 13/05/2023 - 14:18

    Bought and sold Belong data in the past without issue, as well as Spotify family but never gift cards.
    Guess was always the same risk of paying and not receiving but less $ to lose (though do it to enough ppl…)

  • boretentsu on 19/05/2023 - 23:15

    My own approach is you need to make a judgement call on whether saving 5% is worth the risk someone completely unknown pulls the lot under you. For me, no thanks.

    But if I had to, the first thing I would do is check active history. I wouldn't contemplate buying from anyone without active recent roots in the community. Not just selling gift cards but also posting and seeing what they're saying. It will tell you a lot about what kind of person they are and if they can be trusted. The rest of the precautions are mostly illusory because gift card purchases are the wild West no matter what anyone else says.

    I've even not proceeded stumping up for a lower risk group buy because the prospect had an unproven history and I could be left with excess perishables.

  • Bargain2020 on 24/05/2023 - 17:43

    I’d like to thank everybody for their input. I thought that I was being careful enough only dealing with people with a history on OzBargain. But I was too optimistic. And trusting. Some people might call me naive. I’m not. I won’t be as trusting and more risk adverse from here-on.
    Thanks again.

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