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Would checking the Apple gift card balance first be a useful precaution? Would it have saved Paris all this hassle? Seems like this might be a necessary step i
by wishfish 10mo ago
Would checking the Apple gift card balance first be a useful precaution? Would it have saved Paris all this hassle?
Seems like this might be a necessary step if checking the balance would reveal there's something wrong with the card. Would be frustrating to see the $500 card is worthless but better than risking the bureaucratic hell.
- NoMoreNicksLeft 10mo agoWould that save him, or would checking a large fraudulent card be a heuristic that sets off the banhammer system?
- deleted 10mo ago[deleted]
- eddyg 10mo agoI had this exact thought. Unfortunately I can't find a way to check the balance of an Apple gift card without signing in to an Apple ID⁽¹⁾. So maybe you need a throwaway Apple ID... ⁽¹⁾ https://support.apple.com/en-us/108111 https://support.apple.com/en-us/108111
- wishfish 10mo agoI guess a throwaway account would be essential then. That's a little weird to require an ID just to check the balance.
- quesera 10mo agoIt's an anti-fraud measure. Scammers will sniff card info before activation, and poll the balance check site to see when the card is activated. They will then use the card to get merchandise which they ship to another market and sell for ~50-60% of retail value. Like solar power, money laundering is inefficient, but it's valuable when the source material is zero-cost.
- qingcharles 10mo agoI see places taking away the ability to check the balance. Is this some anti-fraud thing? eBay has removed their page too.