I got scammed out of $800 of Steam gift cards. I would like to help Steam stop their use and/or shut down the scammer's account.

[WTFruit]

Without getting into too much detail, it was a somewhat convincing spear phishing scam and I was particularly distracted that day so I didn't realize it was a scam until I had given them $800 dollars (8 $100 cards).

I still have the physical cards, as well as the purchase receipts. The cards were immediately activated so the scammer has the money. I don't expect to see my money back (although that would be wonderful) but I'd still like to help stop them if possible. I'm not sure how else to reach out to Valve but if someone from the company gets back to me I can do my best to help you.

Thanks.


EDIT: For clarification (and to make it extra clear how stupid I was), I personally bought the cards. I went into the store and bought cards with my credit card, and then texted the codes to the scammer who was pretending to be somebody that I know. This person works in ministry and the scammer claimed the cards were for cancer patients. Of course they said they would reimburse me.

I don't personally know the scammer, I don't know their Steam account, and there was no third person involved. Just me buying cards and sending the codes to the scammer.

[Washell]

Reports them from their profiles. That's it.

[fletch]

Valve aren't active in the forums mostly. You can try contacting support but they don't return scammed items. And gift card trading is against the ToS if I remember correctly.

[Brian9824]

Steam accounts are free to make, so shutting them down doesn't really do anything. All you can do is report them and move on. If you paid via credit card you can talk to your credit card company and the store you purchased it from.

A chargeback might be possible in that case.

[Roday]

Origineel geplaatst door brian9824:

Steam accounts are free to make, so shutting them down doesn't really do anything. All you can do is report them and move on. If you paid via credit card you can talk to your credit card company and the store you purchased it from.

A chargeback might be possible in that case.

He sent him 8x100$ physical wallet cards
Nobody can do anything about it

[Brian9824]

Origineel geplaatst door You:

Origineel geplaatst door brian9824:

Steam accounts are free to make, so shutting them down doesn't really do anything. All you can do is report them and move on. If you paid via credit card you can talk to your credit card company and the store you purchased it from.

A chargeback might be possible in that case.

He sent him 8x100$ physical wallet cards
Nobody can do anything about it

He sent the codes, not the cards. He has proof of purchase and the physical cards and if paid via credit card it would be worth taking a few minutes to talk to them for that amount of money. The amount involved is high enough for a police report.

Without knowing all the details its impossible to say, but its certainly worth taking 10-15 minutes of your time for $800.

[м]

sorry but who would buy steam wallet for $800 from a random guy?

[Roday]

Origineel geplaatst door brian9824:

Origineel geplaatst door You:

He sent him 8x100$ physical wallet cards
Nobody can do anything about it

He sent the codes, not the cards. He has proof of purchase and the physical cards and if paid via credit card it would be worth taking a few minutes to talk to them for that amount of money. The amount involved is high enough for a police report.

Without knowing all the details its impossible to say, but its certainly worth taking 10-15 minutes of your time for $800.

So?He bought physical cards
U cant revoke/rollback physical cards
Even if he talk with his bank/police,they cant do anything
Steam will never help them to track this person/give any info about the person who redeem it

And the seller will give u refund if the card is invalid/not working,if u get scammed = I doubt they will give u money back because they can simply 'fake' this scam to gain advantages

[Brian9824]

Origineel geplaatst door You:

Origineel geplaatst door brian9824:

He sent the codes, not the cards. He has proof of purchase and the physical cards and if paid via credit card it would be worth taking a few minutes to talk to them for that amount of money. The amount involved is high enough for a police report.

Without knowing all the details its impossible to say, but its certainly worth taking 10-15 minutes of your time for $800.

So?He bought physical cards
U cant revoke/rollback physical cards
Even if he talk with his bank/police,they cant do anything
Steam will never help them to track this person/give any info about the person who redeem it

And the seller will give u refund if the card is invalid/not working,if u get scammed = I doubt they will give u money back because they can simply 'fake' this scam to gain advantages

They can be revoked and it happens all the time when bought with stolen card for instance. It doesn't mean it will be in this case however. There is 0 harm in taking a few minutes of his time to talk to his credit card company regarding the fraud and if there is an actual police report you have a lot more power.

It's certainly a better course of action then shrugging your shoulders and doing nothing considering the amount of money involved.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Origineel geplaatst door brian9824:

There is 0 harm in taking a few minutes of his time to talk to his credit card company regarding the fraud

Most places require cash for gift cards, so that may not be an option.

OP:
Best I can suggest is to report the user by his/her profile.

[Brian9824]

Origineel geplaatst door brian9824:

Origineel geplaatst door You:

So?He bought physical cards
U cant revoke/rollback physical cards
Even if he talk with his bank/police,they cant do anything
Steam will never help them to track this person/give any info about the person who redeem it

And the seller will give u refund if the card is invalid/not working,if u get scammed = I doubt they will give u money back because they can simply 'fake' this scam to gain advantages

They can be revoked and it happens all the time when bought with stolen card for instance. It doesn't mean it will be in this case however. There is 0 harm in taking a few minutes of his time to talk to his credit card company regarding the fraud and if there is an actual police report you have a lot more power.

It's certainly a better course of action then shrugging your shoulders and doing nothing considering the amount of money involved.

Looking at this I think I misread part of it. I read it as he bought the cards and then sent them to a scammer meaning HE was the buyer.

After re-reading I'm guessing someone else bought the cards and gave him the cards and receipt so yeah, OP is outta luck and nothing steam can do as its just your word versus theirs. For all they know you took the cards and reciepts out of the garbage and claimed you bought em from someone.

[Brian9824]

Origineel geplaatst door Spawn of Totoro:

Origineel geplaatst door brian9824:

There is 0 harm in taking a few minutes of his time to talk to his credit card company regarding the fraud

Most places require cash for gift cards, so that may not be an option.

OP:
Best I can suggest is to report the user by his/her profile.

I know Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc all allow you to buy with credit cards, but I re-read his post and it sounded more like he bought the card from someone else who had bought it and not a store directly.

[WTFruit]

For clarification (and to make it extra clear how stupid I was), I personally bought the cards. I went into the store and bought cards with my credit card, and then texted the codes to the scammer who was pretending to be somebody that I know. This person works in ministry and the scammer claimed the cards were for cancer patients. Of course they said they would reimburse me.

I don't personally know the scammer, I don't know their Steam account, and there was no third person involved. Just me buying cards and sending the codes to the scammer.

[Brian9824]

Origineel geplaatst door lipton_lover:

For clarification (and to make it extra clear how stupid I was), I personally bought the cards. I went into the store and bought cards with my credit card, and then texted the codes to the scammer who was pretending to be somebody that I know. This person works in ministry and the scammer claimed the cards were for cancer patients. Of course they said they would reimburse me.

I don't personally know the scammer, I don't know their Steam account, and there was no third person involved. Just me buying cards and sending the codes to the scammer.

I'd still contact the police and your credit card company. Nothing at stake but a little of your time. The worst they can do is tell you that they can't help you.

Steam can't do anything because those codes could have been re-sold or changed hands so even if they tracked who redeemed them it doesn't mean that person did anything wrong.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Origineel geplaatst door brian9824:

I know Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc all allow you to buy with credit cards, but I re-read his post and it sounded more like he bought the card from someone else who had bought it and not a store directly.

You must be lucky then, because Walmart and Target here, don't allow credit cards to purchase them. Debit card, as that follow different rules, seem to be allowed.

Amazon is all unauthorized resellers, so I wouldn't trust those unless there was no other choice. Amazon it's self does not sell such gift cards.

[Brian9824]

Origineel geplaatst door Spawn of Totoro:

Origineel geplaatst door brian9824:

I know Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc all allow you to buy with credit cards, but I re-read his post and it sounded more like he bought the card from someone else who had bought it and not a store directly.

You must be lucky then, because Walmart and Target here, don't allow credit cards to purchase them. Debit card, as that follow different rules, seem to be allowed.

Amazon is all unauthorized resellers, so I wouldn't trust those unless there was no other choice. Amazon it's self does not sell such gift cards.

Amazon used to sell steam gift cards officially but no longer do so sadly.

Also for the OP target has a section for gift card fraud for instance - https://www.target.com/c/gift-card-fraud-prevention/-/N-lj9kh?lnk=giftcardfraudpr&Nao=0

Says to report all fraud or scams to https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-1