The eBay Gift Card Scam...

So, I've tried texting 2 separate providers on Tryst in the last few days, and both times I get an almost identical text reply stating that any exchange will be made with eBay gift cards for a specific amount. I understand there is something shady going on, but I can't quite figure out where, or how, the grift happens. Can someone give me the fine details about how the scam actually works?

Did you get far along enough in the messaging to find out when they wanted the gift card?

"Send me a gift card" is the current go to comment in the sugar world for women who meet resistance to paying in advance for meetings. It is now not uncommon for me to say "I don't have an electronic payment account so I can't send you $50 for gas money" and to get back "Baby, I would love a gift card -- just send me the numbers and codes."

I, too, would like to be educated on whether this is a more sophisticated scam than just the obvious.

Google it, there is some info out there. Once they get the codes they can cash in the gift card in a couple ways, they don't actually need the physical card. Got the same thing from a Tryst provider over the weekend. Just say no unless you already have some connection with the provider

From what I could gather on google, the gift card scam has been around for many years, although it usually involves exchanging information on the phone via voice or by text message. The victim of the scam buys the gift cards, the scammer makes some excuse to get the codes off the card. Once they have the codes, purchases are quickly made online,...poof,...money gone. Sometimes, the scammers will request a refund for items purchased, in effect, doubling the take. Apparently the companies that provide the cards have no interest in tracking down or prosecuting scammers. May be too costly or difficult to prove the crime.

I have not gotten far enough along to find out when the actual exchange of card codes happens with someone posing as a provider on Tryst or somewhere else, but it must be quite a slick operation.

There may be safer ways to handle a transaction, but I still go with the Benjamins. Anyone else have a story or information to share about this scam?

Oh, one more thing,...the 2 providers I contacted have good reviews here and elsewhere, so I'm assuming their accounts were somehow hacked. It's a bit of a mystery.

If the gift card info is exchanged before a face to face, money gone, scam played. Paying in person with a gift card, no big deal.
Anytime there is a deposit, or alternative method of payment, executed before there is a breathing human in front of you…almost assuredly a scam. I have lost 30 twice with the gas scam. Both times a calculated risk.

I don’t get “free Test drives” to see if we are a “fit”, so gas money or cards before hand are absolutely a no no.

How does that enhance security? ….lol

I ran into that with MadamCaptainW a couple of weeks ago. Text had been added to her post with an out of state area code phone number. She is totally legit but someone was able to edit her post. They wanted a gift card and said it wouldn't be given until after services were rendered. Whole thing sounded fishy, did some checking and she did not put that on her post. I'm guessing that if it had continued there would have been some excuse to get the codes before the appointment. Bad enough we have fake ads, now we have to worry about fake info on legit ads.

It has permeated the sugar sites as well.

Heres another one https://albuquerque.skipthegames.com...e/124798257640

States she needs $80 for baby sitter and is never willing to meet or accept cash