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ATimson

macrumors regular
Sep 8, 2007
162
1
Here in the US (at least), a $100 store gift card is typically worth $100. You can go into most chain stores and ask for $100 cash for their $100 gift card, and you will get it.
That depends on the state you live in; that holds true for one or two, but in most of the US you can't get cash back.
 

mrblack927

macrumors 6502a
Aug 19, 2008
841
34
I just wanted to chime in and say that I worked at a grocery store and know a bit about how the "activation" works.

When you check out, the cashier (me) is required to swipe or manually enter the card number for the itunes card, the system then waits for payment, and WHEN payment is confirmed... the itunes card number gets wirelessly transferred to apple so that it can be updated in their databases as "active". Theres no way for a common store employee to get around this, believe me I've tried.

That being said, there are many systems that use "code activation" to sell digital products (ie. cd keys for games). These systems usually rely on a algorithmic key generator to make "valid" keys and a database of activations to make them "active".

The algorithm for itunes cards has no doubt been cracked by now and made into a keygenerator. After that, all that's needed is a backdoor or loophole in the system to make the keys active. Usually this process will have an imperfect success rate but still good enough to make someone A LOT of money.

That's what these keys most likely are. That's why you here stories of people getting keys for the wrong amounts and/or receiving extra keys even though the seller doesn't seem to care that he has given you way too much. He most likely has a crude speadsheet of keys that he has already processed and just copy/pastes them in emails to send out to buyers.

So yes, these cards are not legitimate, but they not as bad as the "stolen credit card" theories make them out to be. You wont loose your credit if you buy them, apple will simply try to patch the exploit to prevent further scams.
 

alphaod

macrumors Core
Feb 9, 2008
22,183
1,245
NYC
Then I should buy a few thousand dollars worth of codes ASAP. Should set me up for life of iTMS stuff! (Well unless they close the store, which means they'll have to send me a fat check).
 

ATimson

macrumors regular
Sep 8, 2007
162
1
I just wanted to chime in and say that I worked at a grocery store and know a bit about how the "activation" works.

When you check out, the cashier (me) is required to swipe or manually enter the card number for the itunes card, the system then waits for payment, and WHEN payment is confirmed... the itunes card number gets wirelessly transferred to apple so that it can be updated in their databases as "active". Theres no way for a common store employee to get around this, believe me I've tried.
As a former cashier myself... there is one way around it. Namely, make it so that the card that gets scanned/swiped is not the card that the customer is handed back.
 

theBB

macrumors 68020
Jan 3, 2006
2,453
3
If the seller sells a couple gift cards every now and then at a discount, he could be clean. However, if he is selling a ton of them everyday, they are either purchased through stolen credit cards or as somebody pointed out, they are hacked through a key generator. Either way, it is unethical, immoral and possibly illegal to participate and fund these types of activities. Of course, if you are the type who has no qualms about buying expensive electronic equipment at a fraction of its real price out of a car trunk at some random street corner, you probably don't care about ethics that much anyways...

Does anybody remember the case where feds caught some guys who were involved in cigarette smuggling between states with low and high cigarette taxes in order to fund Hizbullah?
 

gregdrummeraz

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 7, 2007
396
0
Glendale, az
So bottom line. If I sale a few of these a week I get at a 30 dollar profit(I get em for 60 a piece on ioffer). Would I get in trouble?

I am a minor, so just really wondering.
 

mrkgoo

macrumors 65816
Aug 18, 2005
1,178
3
thanks for telling me about this! just bought a $100 one for 58 dollars. The first code he sent me didn't work, so he gave me a new one after I sent him a screenshot. The second one didn't work at first either, so I sent him a screenshot of that, and he sent me another one. But while I was waiting for his response, I tried again, and it worked. Then he sent me the third code, and that worked too. $200 in itunes credit for $58. Time to by some apps! (ps: sorry if what I did was immoral, but I'm sure what this guy is doing isn't even legal, so)

Yes it is immoral. If they were doing something illegal, and you KNEW it, you are part of the problem. Besides the only people who are being punished by your actions is Apple.
 

techlover828

macrumors 68020
Jun 28, 2007
2,358
2
Maine
Yes it is immoral. If they were doing something illegal, and you KNEW it, you are part of the problem. Besides the only people who are being punished by your actions is Apple.

Well, I don't know what there doing is illegal, I just have a strong suspicion.

BTW: Is there anyway to transfer credit in my account to a different account?
 

gregdrummeraz

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 7, 2007
396
0
Glendale, az
Well, I don't know what there doing is illegal, I just have a strong suspicion.

BTW: Is there anyway to transfer credit in my account to a different account?

IDN think so. If there was, Apple would have issues with account frauds.

So, my question remains. Would I get in trouble for selling these?

We do not know if this is illegal, really don't. I would like an actual FACT not opinion on this. :cool:
 

theBB

macrumors 68020
Jan 3, 2006
2,453
3
We do not know if this is illegal, really don't. I would like an actual FACT not opinion on this. :cool:
If you don't care about the ethics of this transaction, it is your conscience, but pretending you don't really know what is going on is a bit lame.
 

tnbig

macrumors newbie
Oct 8, 2008
3
0
Hi, i seen this thread and would like to clear something up...

It is not illegal to sell these itunes cards cheap. I know how it all works (i cant tell you because it would raise competition for me). It has nothing to do with stolen credit cards or some sort of keylogger.

if you've got any questions about it pm me and maybe i could point you in the right direction ;)
 

gregdrummeraz

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 7, 2007
396
0
Glendale, az
Hi, i seen this thread and would like to clear something up...

It is not illegal to sell these itunes cards cheap. I know how it all works (i cant tell you because it would raise competition for me). It has nothing to do with stolen credit cards or some sort of keylogger.

if you've got any questions about it pm me and maybe i could point you in the right direction ;)

It says you can't be PM'd. I am hiiiiighly interested in finding this out.
 

ethernet76

macrumors 6502a
Jul 15, 2003
501
0
Receiving stolen property:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receipt_of_stolen_property
http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/criminal/charges/theft008.pdf

I know you might not live in New Jersey, but just to further the point. And notice that there doesn't necessarily need to be a dollar amount attached to an item. If you are questioning it this much, then you are obviously unsure of it's legality and thus can be considered knowledgeably receiving stolen goods. And who knows if the cards are real/fake/expired/non working. Maybe they were reported stolen and Apple is now on the look out for the codes, and thus when they're entered into iTunes...bam.

Not really. No prosecutor in the history of ever would even file charges in this case. They would never to able to reach the burden of proof.

It's one thing to buy a car stereo from a friend. It's another to buy something from a legitimate website.

To be convicted, the receiver must know the goods were stolen at the time he receives them and had the intent to aid the thief.

You would never be able to proof the later. Nor would you be able to prove the first part. Suspicion isn't knowledge. For that matter anything on eBay could have been stolen and we'd see people fearing eBay purchases because police would be arresting people all over the place for receiving stolen property.
 

tnbig

macrumors newbie
Oct 8, 2008
3
0
I need 5 posts and to have been on the forums 24 hours before you can pm sorry.

have a look on my public profile and send an email to the address thats there ;)
 

tnbig

macrumors newbie
Oct 8, 2008
3
0
whatever you do DONT buy from ioffer. There are so many scammers on there.
 

gregdrummeraz

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 7, 2007
396
0
Glendale, az
Ok, well I don't know If I had previously mentioned this but.


For the past 9 days I have had one off these "fraudulent" gift cards in my itunes credit. I have nought 6 songs and nothing has happened. No itunes contacting me, no credit removal from my account. NOTHING. Its all fine. Though I wonder if I'll ever get any repercussion from apple. I dont know.
 

Bosox3

macrumors regular
Feb 7, 2007
207
1
Ok, well I don't know If I had previously mentioned this but.


For the past 9 days I have had one off these "fraudulent" gift cards in my itunes credit. I have nought 6 songs and nothing has happened. No itunes contacting me, no credit removal from my account. NOTHING. Its all fine. Though I wonder if I'll ever get any repercussion from apple. I dont know.

haha..Nothing is going to happen..I wouldnt even worry about it.
 
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