Is purchasing discounted gift cards on darknet markets and then using them online illegal?

I've seen many listings for discounted gift cards on darknet markets such as a $500 Amazon gift card for half that cost in USD. Is buying them and using them illegal? What kind of tracking could they do on the e-gift card code?


Comments


[5 Points] sohhlz:

Most likely it would be illegal. They are probably buying or charging up the cards with stolen credit card info. If you use the card for a purchase, it could be traced back to you through your Amazon account and address the items were shipped to. It really seems like to use these gift cards safely, you would have to act like they were stolen credit cards and act accordingly. Send items to a drop location not associated with you, access Amazon through Tor, etc.


[3 Points] Gabralkhan:

Concerning Gift Cards i think the good reference site that talk about that and sell that is :

"The Carded Store" : http://cstoreav7i44h2lr.onion/

And here what they are saying about that :

"Giftcards value available between $500 and $2,000

The price is half of value. YOU MUST USE A SAFE DROP ADDRESS WHEN ORDERING WITH OUR GIFT CARDS"

As i understand it you should not do that on your personal account or use the gifts cards to receive to your own address.


[2 Points] TheLawOne:

I'm a lawyer. If the vendor advertises the product as stolen/hacked/or acquired by an other illegal means (when determining legality go by the low of YOUR land, not the vendors) then it is obviously illegal to purchase. Otherwise it is perfectly legal to purchase discounted gift cards on the darknet. Good to know* If you are confident in your anonymity on tor and are you're "approached. Then package was flagged not the actual transaction. Calmly say "the vendor purchased the card for $500 then decided he would rather have cash." Hope that answers your question.


[1 Points] NotEvenMyFinalForm:

lolwut? It is a gift card, who is to argue that you did not receive it as a gift?


[1 Points] Sanitarium-Market:

I think your problem will be that those codes and bar codes used to generate the gift cards are a hack basically of the original creation program. I would imagine they may not be perfect. That is the risk. The code generated might be perfect enough to allow you to buy, but no perfect enough not to get flagged. Eventually they will flag and watch you, till you get up to a certain amount prior to prosecution. Then you will be prosecuted for theft, fraud and possibly laundering. Again, it is all just a risk.

I imagine the scam is the same as producing credit card numbers from real banks. You can use that cards, but only 1-2 times. Since your gift card which you use, is linked to you by address or otherwise, you are red handed.


[1 Points] Illadelph3:

Think for yourself...it's common sense. Yes its obviously illegal but you can come up with an easy excuse saying you bought it from Craigslist by email or phone. Chances are they wont waste their time looking for you.