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Tamara Wilhite is a technical writer, industrial engineer, mother of two, and published sci-fi and horror author.

I review my experience trying to use a Vanilla Visa gift card and share some of the problems I encountered. I hope this information helps other consumers make informed decisions when buying prepaid gift cards.

I review my experience trying to utilize a Vanilla Visa gift card and share some of the problems I encountered. I hope this data helps other consumers make informed decisions when buying prepaid gift cards.

What Is a Vanilla Visa Carte?

A Vanilla Visa carte is a prepaid card, which means that you load money onto information technology when you purchase information technology. It is sold as a souvenir card, though at that place are several types of these Vanilla cards, and some work like reloadable debit cards also. This article focuses on the gift card type, which is sold in denominations ranging from $10 to $250+.

What Is It Used For?

  • It allows you to brand online purchases fifty-fifty if you don't take a debit or credit card.
  • This menu is accepted anywhere that Visa is accepted, so information technology allows you to give someone a gift menu without having to choose merely one retailer.
  • Y'all cannot spend more money than you've loaded onto the card, so you don't take a chance overdraft. This can help people adjourn their spending.
  • Some parents use prepaid cards as "starter" cards for teens who are nevertheless learning how to use a credit or debit card responsibly.

But Is It Safety?

In my opinion, the Vanilla Visa gift carte is a scam with many different components. Below are a few of the problems I had with this card.

Issues With the Vanilla Visa Prepaid Gift Card

  • There is a 24-hour wait to use the cards online.
  • Registration doesn't work.
  • The website is not secure.
  • Customer service is hard to contact.

There Is a 24-Hr Wait to Use the Cards Online

When you purchase these cards and activate them (which requires a fee), you can't immediately apply them to make online purchases. You accept to await at to the lowest degree 24 hours before yous can annals them on the Vanilla Visa website, which must be washed before you can employ the card online. Even if the website "sees" the purchased corporeality for the activated gift card, you withal cannot register it and use it until 24 hours accept passed.

The carte'south instructions say vendors may put a 24-hour hold on money, but there is no such alarm in the instructions or on the vendor website stating that the carte itself must be registered online. In fact, the website's "important things to know" department says you can apply the Vanilla Visa card immediately after purchase. This is not truthful for online purchases, though I don't know if this is true for an in-person transaction. Given the poor client service and general reputation of the visitor, I dubiousness it.

Registration Doesn't Work

At to the lowest degree, it never worked for me. For the showtime total day, any endeavour to register my card by entering in my zip code and trying to go on was denied. After buying two divide Vanilla Visa gift cards at the same time from the aforementioned store and making a dozen attempts to annals them, I was never able to go a zip code associated with them—significant I could never actually use them online as was my intent when they were purchased. (I never tried to utilise these souvenir cards as debit cards with a vendor.)

The Website Is Not Secure

Card registration issues are non the but problem with the website. I received a warning that the Vanilla Visa website has a broken HTTPS, every bit well as problems with its SHA-1 Certificate. The TLS connection was secure, according to my browser.

Customer Service Is Hard to Contact

I called customer service as before long equally I was able to detect a telephone number for their customer service department—which was non like shooting fish in a barrel. The phone number for Vanilla Visa support was only shown after I made multiple failed attempts to associate a cypher code with my card. The difficulty of finding a good phone number for support is another strike against this Visa gift bill of fare. To help other frustrated customers, I'm including the number below.

Vanilla Visa Customer Support: 1-800-571-1376

Ultimately, I was never able to register my gift cards online through the website and had to call the Vanilla Visa phone number to go a zip code associated with my card. And even subsequently I had my zip code associated with it per my chat with client service, it withal didn't piece of work that day or the adjacent.

Comparing to the American Express Gift Card

I also tried out an American Express prepaid gift card afterwards giving upwards on the Vanilla Visa gift card. Information technology has some similarities to the Vanilla Visa, but overall it was a much ameliorate experience for me. Hither'south how the two cards compared:

  • Activation Fee: The American Express gift card had the same activation fee ($5.95 at the time) as the Vanilla Visa gift carte for a $25 balance.
  • Wait Time: The American Express card takes xxx minutes to activate afterward purchase. As presently as information technology activates, you tin can apply information technology for purchases, including online purchases. I was able to use the card the aforementioned day I bought it, whereas later three days of trying and failing to use the Vanilla Visa cards, I gave up.
  • Registration: You tin can use any zip code, including your domicile zip code, for the purchase without calling a phone number or giving away personal information.

Some other 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 like shooting fish in a barrel to tamper with, as this Consumer Reports commodity about souvenir bill of fare scams notes.

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For example, bar codes can be covered up with stickers that bear witness a different code, leading consumers to unsuspectingly load money straight onto a thief's carte instead of their own. The silver scratch-off substance that covers Pivot numbers tin as well be bought in sticker form, so a thief could scratch information technology off, record card numbers and Pin numbers, then embrace the Pin back up with a sticker, making information technology extremely hard for consumers to tell that the card has been compromised.

And those are just some of the issues with physical cards sold in stores. At that place are many other types of online and in-person scams that criminals use to try and proceeds admission to the money on your Vanilla Visa card or other gift card.

Where Did My Money Go?

If you load money onto your card and later check the residue to discover your money gone, it's possible that someone else had access to your card information via tampering or hacking. You may run across a listing of transactions on your carte du jour that you did non make, often PayPal transactions.

The Consumer Diplomacy page for Vanilla Visa gift cards shows numerous reports of this exact state of affairs. It also shows numerous reports of the unhelpfulness of Vanilla Visa's client service, so you may be out of luck on getting your coin back.

How Can I Become My Money Back?

Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for that, or I'd have gotten my own money back. If a Vanilla Visa gift card is used fraudulently, the company has a bad reputation for non helping victims even after they provide a lot of information. You lot can contact customer support at 1-800-571-1376, but be careful about what data you share with them. There have been reports that the company demands copies of driver's license pictures and other information that puts the victim at gamble for identity theft. And you don't desire to share this information on their website since it's not secure.

If Vanilla Visa's client back up is not helpful, y'all might consider submitting a complaint against the visitor with the Federal Trade Committee and the Ameliorate Business Bureau. While this likely won't go your money back, it will help force the company to improve its services.

  • Submit a Consumer Complaint to the FTC
  • The Better Business Agency Online Complaint System

How to Recognize Common Scams

It's difficult to spot a carte du jour that has been tampered with; the best prevention may be to avoid ownership in-store gift cards, per Consumer Reports. Simply at that place are many other scams that you lot tin can protect yourself against by being aware of them. Awareness will help you make smart decisions about sharing your card data.

These are some examples of scams that readers shared with me. In these situations, scammers ask y'all to purchase a Vanilla Visa carte then you can receive some form of benefit—but you can be sure that all the benefit is going to the scammer.

Someone Offers to Give You Coin

Reader stories:

If my friend asks me to buy a Vanilla prepaid card and so he can send me five hundred when I accept the card, and he asks me to take a flick of the front and back of it, what should I practise?

My daddy wants to requite me $1,000. He said that I have to buy a Vanilla bill of fare and screenshot the front and dorsum of the bill of fare and receipt. He said that I demand $100 on that card because if it'south less than that, he can't transport the $1,000. Is information technology truthful?

If yous purchase a card and send the other party a pic of the front and back, they volition go the bill of fare number and security code. They'll be able to bleed money tied to the card. And they may not transfer whatever money to the card.

Someone Says You lot Won a Giveaway or Prize

Reader stories:

I ran across a person that said they would transport me $400 because of some charity giveaway from their church. They want me to buy a Vanilla card, activate information technology, and ship them a motion picture of the receipt. Is it possible for someone to send money through the Vanilla carte with this information?

I have a person saying they want to requite me coin—that it is a way for them to help people. They are telling me to go go a prepaid Visa carte and they volition help me put the money on it. Is there whatsoever money coming out of my pocket?

The "charity giveaway" like "y'all won a strange lottery" is a common scam to steal your fiscal data. When you provide someone with your card's details—or when they "help" y'all put money on information technology—you're not providing them with a way to give you coin; you're making it possible for them to take YOUR money.

Someone Offers to Overpay You lot

Reader stories:

I take received a cashier's bank check for $i,815 and a request for me to purchase $i,500 on OneVanilla souvenir cards. The difference of $300 is my payment for surveying the shop where I buy the gift cards. I do not want to accept this offering, so what should I practice?

I sold a book on eBay, and the buyer asked to ship me $200 more than than the toll of the book so I would help him use a Vanilla Visa souvenir card. After that, I would send him back the $200 he paid actress. Is this ok? Do I have any risks involved?

No legitimate businesses (or legitimate customers) would brand these types of requests. Equally Consumer Reports notes, scams like these might be part of a money-laundering functioning.

Someone Wants to Pay You With Gift Cards

This scam is so common that the Federal Trade Commission has an entire page devoted to informing consumers well-nigh it. As the FTC succinctly says, "Gift cards are for gifts, not payments. Anyone who demands payment by gift card is always a scammer."

It's important to be aware of common scams involving the Vanilla Visa gift card (and other gift cards) so you can recognize them if someone tries to rip you off.

It'due south important to be enlightened of mutual scams involving the Vanilla Visa souvenir card (and other gift cards) so y'all can recognize them if someone tries to rip yous off.

What Not to Practice

  • Never send someone photos of the front or back of your Vanilla Visa card. They can use that information to withdraw money from the carte.
  • Never transport someone photos of the receipt for the card, either. Information technology may show the total or partial card number.
  • Never provide a person or a website with your personal information unless you are 100% sure it is safe.
  • Never trust something that is likewise good to be true, like a souvenir bill of fare offered at a huge discount.
  • Never buy a gift bill of fare in the hopes that someone will deposit money on it. They won't. Ever.

So, Is It a Scam?

While I and many others have had negative experiences with the Vanilla Visa souvenir cards, some customers have used them repeatedly without problems. This article is based on my experience. Other people accept shared like issues in the comments and in messages with me. Nevertheless, yous might have a different experience. Based on the few positive reviews I've seen, the company is capable of delivering the promised service once in a while.

Going back to the Consumer Affairs page for the Vanilla Visa gift carte, it provides a telling picture of customers' overall experiences with these cards. Out of 200+ reviews in the past year, in that location were a few positive ones, but the visitor overwhelmingly received ane-star reviews (out of five stars) and has a one-star satisfaction rating overall. It's notable that the site does not accept goose egg- or half-star reviews, so one is the lowest you lot can become.

Research Before You Buy

To make these cards worth buying, there demand to be better security measures in identify to protect the cards both during and after purchase. The immediate solution for consumers is not to buy Vanilla Visa gift cards. Instead, inquiry your prepaid souvenir menu options earlier you buy, because there are some that don't have these problems; for example, some are usable online or in person within hours of purchase. My advice is to buy a carte du jour with better security and client service than this one.

Further Reading

  • The Apple tree iTunes 866-712-7753 Scam
    Scams are everywhere. This article discusses one that has afflicted many people: fraudulent charges that appear to come from the iTunes store just take nothing to exercise with Apple tree. Learn what to scout for on your credit card beak.
  • Your Guide to 25 Fees That Prepaid Debit Cards Accuse
    If you're more interested in prepaid debit cards than gift cards and want to research your options, one thing to wait into is their fees. This article discusses 25 prepaid debit card fees and how much y'all tin await to pay for different cards.

This article is accurate and truthful to the all-time of the author's knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes merely and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional communication in business, fiscal, legal, or technical matters.

Questions & Answers

Question: I had bought a vanilla souvenir card from a CVS chemist's store of $25 only when I went home I tried buying something online just it didn't let me, so I waited for 24 hrs to try again just information technology still didn't let me. So I checked my transactions, and it says I have $0 in my carte du jour and that the coin had gone to a PayPal account. What practise I do?

Reply: Information technology sounds like someone has already used the card. You tin't actually do annihilation near it, since the issuing company doesn't intendance. You can try to print the records and go back to CVS to beg for a refund, bold the transaction log shows that the transfer to Paypal happened earlier you bought the card. If the transfer is listed equally happening later on y'all bought the card, they'll say you already moved the money and there is nothing to practice.

Question: If my friend asks me to purchase a vanilla prepaid card so he tin send me five hundred when I have the carte du jour, and he asks me to accept a moving-picture show of front and dorsum of it, what should I do?

Answer: Exercise non exercise this. If you buy the card and take a motion-picture show of the front and back, they will get the card number and security code. They'll be able to drain money tied to the card. And they may not transfer coin to the card.

If someone wants to send you coin, they can do this through a wire transfer, Paypal, or check.

Prepaid cards come up with fees and a risk the funds volition expire. Just have them ship you the money some other way that reaches your account. The fees are equal or less in these other methods, and you won't exist ripped off.

Question: My swain moved to New York and said he wants to ship me money but told me I have to purchase a vanilla carte and I accept to add together $forty to it for him to exist able to send me money, is this truthful? $40 is a weird number.

Answer: He can send you money via money transfer services similar Western Union, money orders through the mail service office, money sent via apps and banking websites. He could mail you a check. Yes, this is weird on many accounts.

Question: My boyfriend asked me to purchase a vanilla prepaid bill of fare for him to transport me 2000$. He says information technology has to exist loaded with at to the lowest degree 25/30$ kickoff - is that true?

Answer: Yes, you'd need to pay an activation fee for it to work. No, don't do this. If he needs $2000, do a wire transfer, a banking concern transfer, or then forth. Don't risk a money transfer method that charges so many fees and is so prone to scams.

Question: I have received a Cashiers Check for $ 1,815, and a request for me to buy $ 1,500 on One Vanilla souvenir cards. The deviation of $300 is a payment for surveying the shop where I buy the gift cards. I practise non desire to have this offering and then what should I do with the check?

Answer: This is a scam. This is fraud. Do NOT cash that check.

They want you to put existent coin on a souvenir card and ship it to them. The check is either simulated outright, so y'all lose your real money when you send it to them, or they are laundering drug money, and yous're guilty by association for aiding them.

You lot can take the cheque to the police and written report their asking and their data. Or you can take information technology to your local depository financial institution, NOT cash information technology, report the fraud and allow them track it downward.

Question: I bought a vanilla visa gift card of $sixty. I went online to purchase something, but it didn't become through. I went to bank check the balance and said it had $0. I called vanilla visa souvenir card for assistance and I take to transport a picture of my ID. Its a full scam. I lost all the money. What can I practice?

Respond: This is a common trouble, equally you can tell from the other comments on this article. The Vanilla Visa gift card provider doesn't intendance about fraud. They don't help you. I hadn't heard of them asking for ID before, though that would make sense if they were checking whether yous're the person who used it previously.

A different question is - who did you requite your identification information to? And what data did they require? Simply a driver's license is reasonable. If they asked for an SSN or a lot of other identifying information, and then you're at hazard of identity theft.

Question: How do nosotros consumers become these Vanilla cards out of these stores?

Answer: I don't think that's the correct approach. I call back the solution is better security measures to protect the cards during and after buy. The immediate solution for consumers is don't buy Vanilla Visa but a cash card with better security and customer service.

Question: I bought a Vanilla Visa carte. It was as an emergency and I wasn't able to use it. I called them. They told me they put coin on hold for a week. A week later, information technology was nothing balance. They stole the coin I loaded on that card, and they create false transactions. The card was not used considering I was denied. I submitted FBI report. How else I tin can get my money back? Single mom too. Hate the scammers and want them to pay for it.

Answer: Unfortunately, I don't have an respond to that or I'd accept gotten my coin back. A complaint with the Federal Merchandise Committee and negative reports with the Better Business organization Bureau will result in more than a report with the FBI.

Question: If my Vanilla Visa gift card isn't activated at buy, can I get back to the store where I bought from and inquire them to actuate information technology?

Answer: If information technology wasn't activated at buy, you should check to run across how much was debited from your bank account / billed to your credit card. Notice out how much money may have been applied to it, and yous tin can utilize that equally proof that those funds SHOULD be available on your account.

If no money was taken from your bank business relationship/credit menu, then the card won't be activated until you pay the fees to do so and put the money on the bill of fare.

Question: I simply checked my balance and transactions just there was two of the items that I never bought. Delight help me out, because almost 250 dollars are gone now. What am I supposed to do?

Reply: The pain and frustration you feel is shared by quite a few others who posted comments. I lost money on a Vanilla Visa bill of fare, likewise. I am not customer service, and the entire footing of this article was to hash out the horrible customer service by the financial services company. Y'all can try calling their phone number or talking to the retailer, but most people had no luck on either end. Don't apply them in the future.

Question: My mom told me to become buy a Vanilla Visa card and call her one time I got information technology because she was going to transfer coin to it for me. Ok, so she's not going to scam me, but how does that work?

Answer: Information technology is possible to transfer coin to it at the register. Some brands similar Amazon allow you transfer coin like an allowance.

Question: My daddy wants to give me yard. He said that I accept to buy a vanilla card and screenshot the forepart and back of the card and receipt. He said that I need 100$ in that carte because if it's less than that, he tin can't send it. Is it truthful?

Answer: Fake. He can purchase a card, load it with money and send information technology to you. He may need data from the card to load it with more funds, but it doesn't demand $100 for someone else to load it with more coin. What he is asking allows him to bleed YOUR $100.

Question: I have an Amazon purchase on my Vanilla Visa Souvenir Card, only no Amazon account (non my purchase). How do I become coin back?

Respond: I don't call up you can, hence my complaints in the article.

Question: I called the number on the dorsum of my Visa card and it said I got a reward and I stupidly gave them info without thinking. Is this a scam I'm really scared what could happen?

Answer: It depends on the information you gave them. Name and address may not be an issue. There is no reason, however, for someone offering a prepaid debit carte du jour to enquire for a Social Security Number.

Question: My friend wants me to get a vanilla pre paid card and put $100 on information technology. After I put $100 on it, he wants me to send him a picture of the receipt. He said he would be able to put $k on there? He said just to keep the card pack and papers and receipt condom and it would work. Is that truthful? Or is that a scam?

Answer: Scam, scam, scam. With the front end and back of the card, they can drain the account. You cannot trust the person to put money on it. If they were going to send yous money, why not wire it, mail a check or ship it another way without so many fees?

Question: My vanilla card kept declining my purchases. When I called to meet why (because I just put $200 on it) they told me they weren't declined but had pending charges (for things I never bought from a website I've never been to). They said it was approved and now my money is gone. I called and can't go anywhere. I'g out $150 and have nothing to show for it but hard work thrown in the garbage. What can I do?

Answer: Information technology sounds like you're some other victim of fraud with the Vanilla Visa card. Unfortunately, yous can't do annihilation except endeavor to use the remaining $50 on the card before that, too, is gone.

Question: I bought a prepaid one vanilla card with 300 dollars on it and the next twenty-four hour period, I see that the money is gone. What exercise I do?

Answer: The visitor'south customer service blames the retailer. The retailer blames client service. And both may blame you. You have no recourse. No one helps you. That'southward why I wrote this article.

Question: Someone is asking to buy my vanilla card so they can deposit money on it. Is this a scam?

Answer: If they are asking to buy your specific menu, I would be concerned they are trying to access any funds on it. You tin can buy those cards at drug stores for a couple of dollars to activate.

Question: I was gifted a vanilla card $200. It doesn't work. They told me someone else had "a concord " on the carte du jour. The but way to give them proof is to ship them all of my personal info and a receipt from the person who bought it (with cash a year agone). Is this a scam with the vanilla card company?

Answer: A hold on the carte means it has probably already been used. It is reasonable for the issuing arrangement to ask for a receipt to verify you are the one who bought the carte. The hard function is the personal information. Do you give them the info of the person who bought it or yours? If the person who bought the card used it, then your personal information isn't a match and they'll pass up to give you - the person who looks like y'all don't really own the card - the money. If you provide your personal information to a group that isn't really the assist desk, your identity could be stolen, too.

Question: I was rewarded a vanilla gift card of $l. The get-go night I got it I used it to buy something off the internet. Ok that left me with about 30 or then dollars, I simply checked and it said 36 or then was awaiting and I was left with 1.60. I chosen them and they said they will abolish that and requite me the coin back. Is this true? And what the heck happened?

Reply: Ane possibility is that y'all placed a duplicate club. More likely, someone already had the card data and used information technology as before long as they saw it was activated and loaded with money. I doubt the financial institution will give you lot the coin back because they don't care most similar cases of fraud.

Question: I bought my vanilla carte du jour on a Fri. I tried to buy something and it kept saying that the card was denied. When I went back to purchase something online it said I only had 8cents on the bill of fare, when initially I had 40 dollars on the card. It said I fabricated five transactions for 4.99, and the proper name on the history said gift something. Does it accuse a fee for every fourth dimension you attempt to buy something?

Answer: Yous shouldn't be charged a transaction fee, but the line items could be someone ELSE buying four.99 souvenir cards using the menu information.

Question: Is the Vanilla Visa card like cash or a gift card?

Reply: The Vanilla Visa carte is supposed to be used equally if it were a debit or credit menu.

Question: I've been using the Vanilla Visa cards for years without whatever problems. I've never been asked for documentation or had a trouble registering my cypher code. Nor have I e'er had any issues ever with ordering anything online right away. What is up with this?

Answer: This article is based on my experience. Other people take shared their problems in the comments and in messages with me. Based on your feel, they're obviously capable of delivering the promised service once in a while.

Question: I bought a vanilla bill of fare a few weeks ago and used information technology online; it still had 27.77 dollars left. Today I checked the residuum and noticed I had nothing left. Information technology showed a transaction that said paypal online. Did I just get robbed?

Answer: Yes, I believe yous did. And at that place's nothing you can practice virtually it. I don't know if this is due to theft of information from the ecommerce site you did business organisation on or something else.

Question: I think I fell for this Vanilla Visa Card scam and gave them my personal data. I'1000 terrified! What can I do at this point?

Respond: It depends on the data you lot gave them. Proper noun, address, phone number and email address are floating around in other databases. If you gave anyone your Social Security Number or driver's license number, lock down your credit report right now so that no one can have out a credit carte du jour or other loan in your name.

Question: I've tried since the day I bought my vanilla prepaid visa at Walgreens to ready account. No progress and aforementioned with the phone. I want my $90.00 back I loaded on this bill of fare. Can you delight help ?

Answer: I suspect the card data was already recorded past thieves who tuckered the account. If so, the creators of Vanilla Visa won't help you. They'll say the money has already been used.

If yous can't fix upwardly the account, then you accept to go through tech back up. However, the money could be debited off the card earlier you take an active business relationship set up.

Question: I bought a vanilla gift menu from Walmart and loaded $35 on it. I bought the carte on 11/27 at three:48pm and someone else spent all of the money on 11/28! Revvedmonkey was the associated name and it looks like this person used the money on paypal and amazon somehow. Is there anyway to rails this and prosecute the person who stole the money? I imagine this isn't the perps kickoff time. I volition never buy a gift card once more!

Answer: The odds are low that the person can be identified, much less prosecuted. The dollar amounts are so low that police and cybercrime experts don't care.

Question: When using my Vanilla Visa Card, they wanted my birthday to fill a report out. Can anything happen if I give my birthday?

Answer: Vendors have legal reasons to want to verify you lot are over 18.

Question: What if my friend asked me to take a picture of the front and back of my vanilla prepaid card, my habitation accost and my date of birth? Is that suspicious?

Answer: I couldn't put more cherry flags for identity theft and draining of someone'southward account unless I added "Social Security Number" to the listing.

Question: Is "Visa" as nosotros know it associated with this card or are Vanilla gift cards just using a look-alike keepsake? Likewise it seems this company has quite a history of scamming, why can't the vendors selling this card take on any responsibility, if not why not?

Answer: The Vanilla Visa card is issued by The Bancorp Banking company, MetaBank®, and Sutton Bank, not Visa per se. The vendors don't take responsibility because they A. become paid for the activation no matter what. B. different groups accept different levels of protection, and you don't hear much about retailers that DO protect card info. C. gift card scams can involve any brand of card, when you're asked to take a pic of the front and back later on loading money onto it. This bill of fare is just less traceable and thus probably more often used in gift carte scams.

Question: What tin can yous exercise if you received 2 $25 Vanilla souvenir cards in June 2019 and a calendar month later open them for the 1st time and both are declined? Online they both had a zero residuum, then I looked at the transactions for both cards and they were used iii to 2 times. Even so I never opened them till today (vii/nine/19)

Respond: This is exactly the problem created past the poor security of the card's very design. And the visitor's customer service blames the client, saying you used it and so they don't take to do annihilation.

Question: If I transport my vanilla gift carte number, can my money exist stolen off my account?

Answer: Yes, especially if you send both the menu number on the front and verification code on the back.

Question: I have been buying vanilla gift cards for near 2 years, never had a problem till now. I tried to utilize it and they told me that I couldn't use it. I checked the rest and it was gone. I have tried and tried to written report that the money was taken off my card. I tin't get through. I've tried on line on the site, I have also chosen the number on the back of the card. Subsequently being on hold forever, I'yard disconnected. How exercise I report this fraud?

Respond: This is a common problem, and there isn't much you tin can do. You lot could report the fiscal loss in a police force written report. That's essential for insurance purposes, such as if you accept identity theft insurance.

Question: Exercise I need my social security number to employ Vanilla visa card?

Answer: No. No legitimate souvenir card requires your Social Security Number to use. Information technology isn't a credit carte du jour application. You may have to enter a name, address and telephone number to register a souvenir card to use it to pay for things online. Fifty-fifty that information isn't required if y'all use information technology like a debit carte du jour.

Question: My young man asked me to purchase a OneVanilla gift card of $five and activate information technology with $100, and so he will send in $2000. Is this true or a scam?

Reply: Scam. This is a scam. Yous don't have to put $100 on the card for him to send yous $2000. Only if y'all send him the card information, he can drain the $100 from the card.

Question: I ran beyond a person that said they would send me $400 considering of some charity giveaway from their church. They want me to buy a vanilla bill of fare, activate it and send them a picture show of the receipt. Is information technology possible for someone to send coin through the vanilla card with this data?

Reply: That data can be used to transport money to the card, and information technology can be used to bleed the card of funds merely similar when you lot take pictures of your credit card. The "clemency giveaway" like "you won a foreign lottery" is a common scam to steal your financial information. Do not practise this.

Question: I can't go through to Vanilla card support to report my card misplaced. I tin can't detect my paperwork associated with my account. I would similar to but transfer to another carte, but without my credit card number, it isn't possible. Any suggestions on how I tin can get that information?

Reply: The simply possibility would be if yous had a re-create of the receipt from the buy of the card, simply Vanilla Visa rarely assists people who have that blazon of proof. And you lot're correct, it is almost impossible to accomplish their customer support - or go assistance from them if you did reach them.

Question: I had simply used a vanilla gift card and had $16.71 left in my residue. Today information technology says that the card was used and my balance is 0. It says Paypal bird, a code and the corporeality of money that was used. I never paypaled anyone. What can I practise to get the money dorsum?

Answer: Someone can run a credit card / debit transaction through Paypal. This suggests someone had the Vanilla gift card information - including a photograph of it - and and so debited the bill of fare that fashion. Yous can't get the transaction reversed unless you can react Vanilla visa customer back up and go them reverse it. The problem is that they are hard to attain and tend to blame the customer if you tin can talk to them.

Question: I recently purchased a vanilla reloadable gift card. I waited the 24 hours and the money still wasn't on at that place. I fifty-fifty made an account and ordered a specialized card, but the money's non in their either. How do I notice out where it went? I put fifty on the bill of fare when I bought it.

Reply: Unless you lot can get a hold of customer service and they tin give you an reply, there isn't one. Information technology is possible your card was already compromised, so the money was drained from the business relationship every bit soon every bit information technology was put on the card. Or you were given incorrect data and essentially wired your money to them twice. You should contact your depository financial institution and ask to cancel the "loading" of the carte du jour and study the fraud to them.

Question: I bought a "personal reloadable prepaid card" debit Visa for $500.00. Why can't I register it on the site?

Respond: A personal reloadable prepaid menu is not a souvenir carte. These things plain do require the utilise of a Social Security Number, especially if yous're going to receive payroll payments to it. If you tin can't register it online, you should exist able to register it over the phone. Endeavor the customer service number on the card.

Question: I put $150 on a vanilla prepaid debit carte du jour. I can't activate it online or achieve customer service. Is there a number or something else you lot tin advise on getting to activate my carte or refund?

Answer: Your challenges with reaching customer service are discussed in the article. If the website isn't working, I take no other advice to share.

Question: I purchased a $200 souvenir card. It didn't work within 30 minutes of calling card service. What can I do?

Answer: Your experience is similar to others who've commented hither. Vanilla Visa does not accept adequate fraud protection. When cards are drained by scammers, they blame the customers and practise non assist people.

Question: I bought a vanilla gift bill of fare a couple of days ago, and my transaction didn't go through because of insufficient funds. The residual reporting site says it was used for a website that I've never been to. Is it possible that visa prints multiple versions of cards with the same info and whoever uses it first wins? Or did the visa card somehow get hacked without me always using it?

Reply: The carte has no funds on it until you load it with money when you buy the souvenir carte du jour. That means that indistinguishable cards are worthless until you put money on it. What you lot've described requires the card existence hacked or someone constantly checking the balance and using it once loaded.

Question: Do you pay your national three.95 activation fee to load information technology? Why am I charge taxes on the vanilla bill of fare on the amount of money that I am putting on it?

Reply: Activation fees are normal for cards like this. It is similar to a loan awarding fee for a mortgage. While you shouldn't be charged sales tax when buying a gift card, some states and retailers accuse sales taxation on the activation fee corporeality. That means you're probable to be hit with a 5-x% sales tax on the 3.95 activation fee.

Question: I'm trying to take out a loan from a Macau America visitor. They said I need insurance and to buy a vanilla card, and that they will cover if I don't make a payment or stop making payments! Is this loan from Macau America company legit?

Reply: Fake, scam, bad. No legitimate insurance company volition society yous to utilize a specific pre-paid card. Y'all shouldn't exist using credit menu insurance, anyway, because many of those companies have such strict terms that they will NOT pay the bills if you can't. On the other hand, y'all could get inability/death mortgage insurance through your mortgage lender and credit carte insurance through the credit bill of fare visitor - you at to the lowest degree known they are legitimate companies.

In short, NO, don't employ a vanilla visa and give them that data in the vain hope they'll only apply information technology to pay your bills. They'll probably bleed the account and never provide additional coverage.

If you lot're concerned y'all can't pay the bills, take the couple hundred they demand to exist on the bill of fare and put it in a savings business relationship instead to cover any bills when you're short on cash.

Question: Can I send a vanilla card to Ukraine and then they pay the telephone company over there and so the person is able to call the U.South.?

Answer: You tin can mail it anywhere you want. However, the odds are that the money volition exist stolen before the card reaches the destination - any destination - are high. Furthermore, they don't have to accept a Vanilla Visa card to phone call someone. Yous can send a literal telephone card or wire money some other way.

Question: I sold a book on eBay and the buyer asked me if I have to ship me $200 more than than the cost of the book so I would assistance him use a Vanilla Visa gift card. After that, I would transport him back the 200 he paid actress. Is this ok? Do I have any risks involved?

Reply: Yeah. No legitimate business concern customer says "send me money forth with the stuff and I swear I'll give you lot money back". They pay for the product and you send the product they paid for. Practise non do this.

Question: I was asked to buy a vanilla bill of fare and deposit twenty bucks on it. Then I did and gave them a re-create of the card then they could ship me the coin. Earlier I got abode the coin wasn't there. I called the client service to explain and go a refund, merely I didn't get a response. What can I exercise?

Respond: Yous were scammed. If you know the person, demand the money back. If you don't know them, never once again buy a gift card in the promise someone will send you money - they won't, always. The scammers were waiting for confirmation you lot bought and loaded the carte du jour and drained information technology immediately.

Customer service cannot practise annihilation, because they tin can't know if yous intentionally sent money to someone else. They can't reload funds that scammers will just take, either.

Question: I have a person saying they want to give me money that it is a way for them to help people. They are telling me to get get a prepaid visa card and they will assist me put the money on it. Is there any coin coming out of my pocket?

Answer: Scam, scam, scam. Someone can ship you money via Western Union, Paypal or send y'all a bank check. They don't demand a prepaid Visa card to practice then. Yet, if you put money on the card and send them the bill of fare details in the hope they send you money ... they volition drain the menu. And yeah, that coin will come out of your pocket along with the activation fees for the card.

Question: I received a VISA gift card from my aunt which I used to make online transactions on the Apple tree Store. Simply when I checked, my purchases were still pending, my payment option (the souvenir card) was invalid, and now I am $41 in debt with the App Store. I also tried checking the Vanilla Prepaid Online Website; it concluded with "An fault has occurred". I also attempted to actuate the card online, only for it to not piece of work. What practice I do at this point?

Respond: If the website for Vanilla visa is down, the card may not be registered - and yous can't go through online purchases until that'southward registered. You lot even have to wait up to an hour for it to piece of work with online shopping.

If the card has been drained, y'all have no recourse, the company that issued information technology won't assist.

© 2016 Tamara Wilhite

Tamara Wilhite (author) from Fort Worth, Texas on November 22, 2019:

Scam, scam, scam. You don't have to put coin on it for him to send yous coin. But requite him those details, and he tin can bleed the $100.

Jane Lucas on November 22, 2019:

My beau asked me to buy a OnaVanilla visa souvenir card of $5 and activate it with $100 then he will ship in $2000 is this true or a scam?

Tamara Wilhite (author) from Fort Worth, Texas on March 17, 2019:

Ken Burgess Information technology was several dollars no matter how much money yous put on the card.

Ken Burgess from Florida on March 17, 2019:

Non something I am familiar with (store bought 'credit cards'), but out of curiousity I have to ask...

There is a $5.95 price to getting a $25 card?

Veux on January 08, 2019:

To Commonssense the article was written a year ago and Vanilla Visa has done some updates. I personally had a horrible experience with them and I am letting everyone who will listen know about them and you can read 600+ other people terrible experiences at https://www.consumeraffairs.com/credit_cards/vanil... My son bought me a $100 gift card on 12/24 for Christmas and on 12/25 the bill of fare was hacked and the money drained. The funds were transferred to a fake visitor called spandravy.com in San Jose, CA. Vanilla Visa Fraud Dept is horrible and their MO is to deny claims. I accept been reading that most gift card companies don't have botnet defence to keep this kind of stuff from happening. So the best affair is to go old schoolhouse and requite cash.

Tamara Wilhite (writer) from Fort Worth, Texas on January 03, 2019:

Dear Commonssense,

I don't sympathize why yous're citing historic period requirements - I'g an developed and that'southward articulate from my photo.

Your personal experience doesn't invalidate my bad experience or the problems others have mentioned in the comments. I couldn't become the cards registered properly for use. If yous can't become it registered online or via a call, they are worthless.

Commonssense on Jan 03, 2019:

This is where you are wrong. I bender a vanilla visa debit card and I could immediately apply it after activating it. You need to exist 18+ in order for y'all to activate it and the number on the back has absolutely no problems.

talleyclacknesing.blogspot.com

Source: https://toughnickel.com/scams-fraud/The-Vanilla-Visa-Card-Scam

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