My son was recently a victim of fraud following the purchase of a Green Dot Card
at Walmart, in Ellsworth, Maine.
On December 10, my son answered an ad for a temporary apartment rental.
He was told by the fraudster, who called himself Fabien, to go to Walmart (specifically) and
purchase a Green Dot Card (specifically) for $1000.00. My son was further instructed to call Fabien
with the 'activation code' on the Walmart sales receipt as proof that
the card had been purchased. He was assured by the Fabien that the money
could not be released without the actual Green Dot Card (which is also clearly
stated on the Green Dot Card itself). A call was to be made to my son later that day to make meeting arrangements where my son would be given a lease and the keys to the apartment, and the Green Dot Card would be given to Fabien. Of course, there was no such call.
After calling Green Dot (located in the Philippines) he learned the money was gone within 15 minutes of the activation code on the Walmart sales receipt was revealed to Fabien. We still have the Green Dot Card purchased from Walmart with the security number completely intact, yet the
money is long gone!
Green Dot is aware that Walmart uses the security number of the Green Dot Card on the sales receipt, as a method of tracking the cards it sells. This information was given to me
by Green Dot, during one of many calls in my son's behalf.
My son was never informed by Walmart when he purchased the Green Dot Card that the sales receipt should be as closely guarded as the Green Dot Card itself. Nor, is that type of consumer warning printed on the Green Dot Card.in three discussions with Walmart managers regarding this issue (which were all unsatisfactory) I cant help but wonder why Walmart would put what turns out to be a security code on a sales receipt, as this unsafe practice perpetuates fraud.
Lastly, in all three discussions with Walmart managers, I requested a meeting with the Loss Prevention manager, as it is possible that a former Walmart employee, from any state or country, has learned a new way to earn a living.
Thank you for reading this story,
Barbara Seura
207-974-7082
0 comments