Reposting the best tips from this thread to make scammers' life a little bit more difficult
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/info-how-to-buy-an-amazon-gift-card-and-not-be-scammed-1717338Below are simple guidelines that will decrease your probability of being scammed when buying an Amazon Gift Card (and many other gift cards):
- Use an Escrow (this is obvious and comes first) if in any doubt
- Ask for the photo of both sides of the physical gift card where the FULL card is visible (no hidden edges etc) and the photo has a good resolution.
- Ask for a photo of the cash receipt given to the card seller when the card was bought in a shop
- Check that the cash receipt looks ... well ... like a normal cash receipt.
- Check that the *Card Number* from the card matches to the Card Number on the cash receipt.
The *Card Number* is NOT the *Card Code*. The *Card Code* is the code that you redeem at Amazon and it looks like "AQZZ-TRDETY-CY9QF". The *Card Number* looks like a normal credit card number and consists of a long string of digits. Normally, the last 4 digits or the full *Card Number* are printed on the cash receipt. When you buy an Amazon gift card, the *Card Number* is visible (it's also printed on the package) and the *Card Code* is not visible (you need to scrape off the plastic film covering it to see the actual *Card Code*).
- Ask the card seller to write something in pen on the cash receipt (something like "Sold to <> at bitcointalk.org. No refund") and make a photo where BOTH the card and cash receipt are visible. This point helps to ensure that the seller has both the cash receipt and card physically in his hands.
- Check on the cash receipt that the Amazon card has been bought with CASH (not with a Credit Card). It shall be clearly written on the receipt. If you see that the card was bought with a credit card, avoid it. It's a significant probability that the credit card used for that was stolen.
- E-gift codes are much less safe compared to physical cards. With them, you absolutely don't know who and how generated them. Purchase e-codes from a VERY reputable vendor with a VERY good feedback ratio ONLY.
- Offers with rates less than 80% should BY DEFAULT be considered as suspicious if not explicitly proven otherwise. At Paxful, traders buy 100% legit Amazon Gift Cards at 85+%, so ask yourself why your seller is asking much less from you.
- Beware of vendors with "locked" threads where nobody else can comment except them. Those guys are very probably scammers because honest vendors don't fear the customers feedback, good or bad
- Beware of vendors with threads where all messages are from newbies successfully buying and telling each other how great this vendor is.
- As a rule DO NOT CONSIDER trading with vendors with the red trust of -3 or lower. Don't deal 100% at all if the red trust is -4 or even lower. Review the trust level carefully.
- Consider using alternative methods of replenishing your Amazon balance (Gift of Prime , Gift of Kindle Unlimited)
- Buy from reputable vendors (and remember your rates will be within 85-95% range in this case) ONLY
- Scammers normally will try to rush you that you don't have time to review the offer carefully. Be calm.
- Reread this thread and ask if in doubt
** F*CK THE SCAMMERS **