Can you get scammed with a vanilla gift card?

BBB shows $1,000′s of dollars in gift cards useless. We hear about gift card fraud, scams, and thefts frequently but it's not clear that is what is happening with Vanilla Visa gift cards. One thing is clear, a whole lot of people say they can't use the cards they were gifted.

Can vanilla gift cards be scammed?

Another Problem With Vanilla Visa Cards: Fraud and Scams

Gift cards are common targets for scams and fraud, and the Vanilla Visa cards are no exception. One reason for this is that gift cards are easy to tamper with, as this Consumer Reports article about gift card scams notes.

How does a scammer use a gift card?

Someone might ask you to pay for something by putting money on a gift card, like a Google Play or iTunes card, and then giving them the numbers on the back of the card. If they ask you to do this, they're trying to scam you. No real business or government agency will ever insist you pay them with a gift card.

Why do hackers ask for gift cards?

Why Do Hackers Ask for Gift Cards? As you might have guessed, the scammers aren't trying to collect gift cards to send on Mother's Day. Instead, they're asking for gift cards because it's the quickest and easiest way for them to steal money from you.

Can Visa gift cards be hacked?

Gift cards can be tampered with at the store, she said, by crooks who grab stacks of cards, remove the security tape from each gift card, and then take photos or write down the card's secret 16-digit activation code.

How Visa Gift Card Scams Work

Do vanilla gift cards work?

You can use your Vanilla Gift Card virtually anywhere Vanilla Cards are accepted within the United States and District of Columbia, except the Gift Card may not be used for recurring billing or at ATMs.

Is there an issue with vanilla gift cards?

Many complaints about Vanilla Visa gift cards not working

There's a total of 73 complaints to the Better Business Bureau in Columbus, Georgia for INCOMM financial services, the parent company of Vanilla Visa prepaid cards. BBB complaints about visa gift cards that don't work.

What is Vanilla gift card used for?

Gift Cards can be used for in-store, online, phone, and mail order transactions. eGift Cards can be used for online, phone, and mail order transactions. VanillaGift.com also serves as a valuable online resource to learn more about your Vanilla Visa Gift Card. Get accurate answers to frequently asked questions.

How does a vanilla card work?

A plain vanilla card is a basic credit card with no perks and few or no fees. While plain vanilla cards are generally the same—they lack special features—from one financial institution to the next, the card's credit limit depends on the cardholder's creditworthiness.

What do they use vanilla card for?

What Is The Vanilla Prepaid Card? The Vanilla Prepaid Card is a prepaid credit card available from both Mastercard and Visa. It can be used both in-store and online, though there are some retailers who will not accept the card.

Why can't I use my Vanilla Visa Gift Card?

The most common reasons are that the card hasn't been activated, the cashier is running the wrong type of transaction, the dollar amount being charged is greater than the card's balance or the credit card processing machine is bumping up the charge amount to either place a hold on the card or to allow for a gratuity.

Can I use a Vanilla gift card at an ATM?

Vanilla Gift Cards cannot be used at ATMs nor can you get cash back from any of your purchases.

Why is my Vanilla gift card being declined?

There are a number of possible reasons why a purchase could be declined: You don't have enough money left on your card. You haven't activated or registered your card. The address you gave to make an online or phone purchase is different from the address you have on file with your prepaid card provider.

How long does it take for a vanilla gift card to activate?

Technically the card is immediately activated by the store when the cashier completes the purchase. In case you were planning to use your card right away, it's good to keep in mind that some retailers like to place a 24-hour hold on the funds from the time of the purchase.

What is the PIN for a vanilla gift card?

Vanilla Visa gift cards do have a PIN that you'll need to use to do any shopping online. These PIN numbers are not located on the cards themselves. Instead, you'll need to call the number presented on the back of your gift card and enter your gift card number — a sixteen-digit number — to set up your PIN.

Can you use a vanilla gift card on PayPal?

Yes. Anywhere in the U.S. where PayPal is accepted you can use prepaid gift cards that have a Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, or Discover® logo on it.

How do I transfer a vanilla gift card to my bank account?

Access the “wallet” feature on your PayPal app or website. Link your Vanilla gift card to your PayPal account using the “link a card” feature. Transfer your money to your bank account by choosing “transfer money” Select the correct bank account to transfer your funds and wait for them to arrive.

How can I get cash from a vanilla gift card?

How to get cash from a Vanilla Visa gift card? While you can't get cash from a Vanilla Visa gift card directly, you have options like selling the gift card either online or in person or having the money transferred to your PayPal account. You will then receive money in exchange for the gift card.

Where can I spend Vanilla gift card?

Vanilla Gift Cards can be used anywhere Mastercard^® is accepted. Not Registered? Vanilla Prepaid Cards are available at over 3,000+ convenient retail locations nationwide. Use anywhere Mastercard^® is accepted, on-line and in store.

Can I use my Vanilla gift card at WalMart?

Vanilla gift cards are still valuable, just not for use at WalMart.