Disney Gift Card Deals

[havaneselover]

I don't know about that, granted I am very small potatoes, no where near any limits.

I would actually, perhaps naively, argue that this would help Homeland Security and whomever collect data points to establish patterns.

I think it would be much easier to find the bad guys without the noise from those doing manufactured spending and churning. But that's not based on any evidence

 

[supersnoop]

You've peaked my curiosity-is there a link to that story? Or do you have more details?

https://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/837472/m13964855/#m13964855

 

[CMNJ]

Fascinating so they were basically ordering us currency at a discount because of getting money back from their credit card-no wonder the FBI was suspicious

 

[asgaga]

southwest gift cards 100 for 90
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Get-a-100-S...2478487809?hash=item3d1cefe101&rpp_cat_id=152

 

[CMNJ]

southwest gift cards 100 for 90
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Get-a-100-S...2478487809?hash=item3d1cefe101&rpp_cat_id=152

Ugh the dreaded PPDG
Good deal if it lets you buy though!

 

[pillow]

Here is another interesting story on MS, gift cards, money orders, and police involvement . . .

http://www.travelcodex.com/2016/02/i-was-detained-for-manufactured-spending/

 

[havaneselover]

Here is another interesting story on MS, gift cards, money orders, and police involvement . . .

http://www.travelcodex.com/2016/02/i-was-detained-for-manufactured-spending/

I read that one too. $20k / day in gift card purchases???

 

[hsmamato2]

these things do happen to some churners... but as pp noted above in her story, they were 'hardcore'..... I haven't seen anyone post anything on this forum that I would consider in that category....I know you can get banned from various places for smaller things, but as I noted quite a while ago, what's happening right here in this thread? Small potatoes in comparison. my head spins with what some folks manage to do with churning! I mean for things like Fbi coming to your home,etc. (I would have a heart attack lol- I don't have the heart to churn like that anyway)

 

[klmrph]

It wasn't so much the purchasing of the money orders, but more of what you were doing with them.

Nothing fraudulent, just depositing them in the bank. Nothing we have done is illegal, but I know it looks suspicious to the cashiers, that's why it's best not to buy huge amounts at once. We did no where close to what some of the MSers do, but enough that the stores will recognize you.

 

[davper]

Wow-are stores required to report what they deem as "suspicious activity" so interesting. I supposed with concerns of money laundering they probably do have legal obligations to report unusual spending habits.
Thanks for sharing your story.

It wasn't so much the purchasing of the money orders, but more of what you were doing with them.

When you purchase money orders in excess of $3,000, the bank or merchant selling the money orders must fill out a form and submit to government agencies. Do this enough times and you will end up on IRS and Homeland security radars.

There is nothing illegal with the activity and there are legitimate reasons for the activity. Unfortunately, this is also a method used by unscrupulous people for nefarious activities. In the above case, a simple phone call cleared it up.

 

[Weluvdisny]

If anyone has a Price Chopper near them, they are offering 4x the fuel rewards this week on any gc purchase. Also if you buy a Fandango, Xbox, Nike, Olive Garden, Curtis Lumber, Cabelas or JC Penney card for at least $50, they will give a coupon for $10 your next shopping order.

 

[supersnoop]

When you purchase money orders in excess of $3,000, the bank or merchant selling the money orders must fill out a form and submit to government agencies. Do this enough times and you will end up on IRS and Homeland security radars.

There is nothing illegal with the activity and there are legitimate reasons for the activity. Unfortunately, this is also a method used by unscrupulous people for nefarious activities. In the above case, a simple phone call cleared it up.

Just remember, it's not illegal to buy the money orders or move around large sums of money, but it is illegal to purposely structure your activity in a way to avoid reporting. That where suspicious activity reports come into play, and it can get you in real trouble.

 

[CMNJ]

When you purchase money orders in excess of $3,000, the bank or merchant selling the money orders must fill out a form and submit to government agencies. Do this enough times and you will end up on IRS and Homeland security radars.

There is nothing illegal with the activity and there are legitimate reasons for the activity. Unfortunately, this is also a method used by unscrupulous people for nefarious activities. In the above case, a simple phone call cleared it up.

Good to know. I honestly have never purchased a money order and until today had never heard of doing that as part of manufactured spending. I'm only trying to figure out ways to save on my Disney trips (and/or get gift cards for other places I frequently shop at a discount). It does fascinate me to read these stories but not something I'd ever try.

 

[lorijohnhill]

Just remember, it's not illegal to buy the money orders or move around large sums of money, but it is illegal to purposely structure your activity in a way to avoid reporting. That where suspicious activity reports come into play, and it can get you in real trouble.

This is a good point. At what point are we supposed to report "free" GC's (from Swagbucks, mPoints, Shopkick, etc...) as income on our taxes? And where to eBay Bucks figure in?

eta: Or are eBay Bucks considered a rebate, like ebates???

 

[CMNJ]

This is a good point. At what point are we supposed to report "free" GC's (from Swagbucks, mPoints, Shopkick, etc...) as income on our taxes? And where to eBay Bucks figure in?

I would guess eBay bucks would be considered like a rebate of the original purchase because it is tied to the money you spent (like ebates, and credit card cash back) but I would think Shopkick, mpoints, etc would technically be considered a source of income as you are getting paid for your time (completing surveys, going to checkin/scan things at stores, etc). If you made a lot of money from them (like hundreds of dollars per year) I would guess they would have to issue you some type of tax document-like maybe a 1099?
Otherwise it would be up to you to report it.

 

[wolfies30]

FWIW- I am a manager in retail that has Western Union MO's and transfers, and as such, designated as the compliance officer. The limits mentioned here aren't a store policy, they are law, and we do get audited periodically.

Large purchases and structuring transactions require us to fill out the report. While its certainly not illegal, it is good to know the guidelines. I've included a link to the Bank Secrecy Act, so everyone knows the limits and requirements for reporting.


https://www.fincen.gov/financial_institutions/msb/materials/en/bank_reference.html

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

Nothing fraudulent, just depositing them in the bank. Nothing we have done is illegal, but I know it looks suspicious to the cashiers, that's why it's best not to buy huge amounts at once. We did no where close to what some of the MSers do, but enough that the stores will recognize you.

As I said in my initial post, it wasn't so much the purchasing of the money orders, but what you were doing with them!!

When you purchase money orders in excess of $3,000, the bank or merchant selling the money orders must fill out a form and submit to government agencies. Do this enough times and you will end up on IRS and Homeland security radars.

There is nothing illegal with the activity and there are legitimate reasons for the activity. Unfortunately, this is also a method used by unscrupulous people for nefarious activities. In the above case, a simple phone call cleared it up.

You don't say? And actually, the forms are electronically submitted to FINCEN, not the agencies themselves. They are accessed directly from their database. Your perception of the "radar" thing is interesting.

Just remember, it's not illegal to buy the money orders or move around large sums of money, but it is illegal to purposely structure your activity in a way to avoid reporting. That where suspicious activity reports come into play, and it can get you in real trouble.

Maybe; maybe not!

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

So I'm not seeing the "new" link any longer for the Disney $100 gift card on Target.com. The old link stating "only available in stores" still remains.

 

[havaneselover]

So I'm not seeing the "new" link any longer for the Disney $100 gift card on Target.com. The old link stating "only available in stores" still remains.

I wonder if the ones that people were able to order have shipped.

Eta: I see it on the app.

 

[CMNJ]

So I'm not seeing the "new" link any longer for the Disney $100 gift card on Target.com. The old link stating "only available in stores" still remains.

Try this link
http://m.target.com/p/disney-gift-card-100/-/A-47984832
So weird I can pull it up on my phone but when I copy the link it it doesn't work