Green Dot Question

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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 28 Oct 2014 Posts: 9

I have a question about these Green Dot scams.

Lets just take a popular one going around. Someone calls claiming to be from IRS and tells victim they need to pay a fine or be arrested. Victim then gets Green Dot card to pay off fine, calls suspect back and gives them the number. The money is then taken from the account.

My question is...How did the suspect take the money? Did they have an account they transferred it to? I'm assuming at least some of these scams are taking place where the suspects are in the States. Therefore, it seems possible to trace this back if it was an account. So, I'm thinking there must be an option I'm missing.

I'm curious and I've done some reading and haven't seen an answer.

Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 7:06 pm

Hi Spooky Trails,

Green Dot isn't associated with a Bank account rather the Money is on the Card and only on the Card. Anyone getting access to the number can empty it almost immediately and it is untraceable.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 28 Oct 2014 Posts: 9

Thanks Oscar. How do they empty it though? They get the account number, how does that get them money? I know this seems like a dumb question, I just don't get it though.

Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 11:29 pm

Once the scammer has the card number, they can use it to purchase goods just like they would with a stolen credit card number.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 28 Oct 2014 Posts: 9

I see what you're saying, and was wondering if that was it. I just got to think there must be a way to get the actual money though.

Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 2:16 am

I'm certain stores like Walmart would give 'Cashback' so yeah money could be taken off.

Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 5:24 pm

Reminds be a bit of the "BKA Ransomware" that was around in Germany in 2011/12, demanding a Paysafecard number. It's the same system, you get the number, you can access the funds (<sarcasm>that's why they call it safe, isn't it? Safe for criminals, that is</sarcasm>). Actually, what OP wrote sounds a lot like that, although no computer involved.
Probably, they use money mules to get the items, then sell them somewhere - or they demand refunds. Idk where the scam originates, but some stores in Germany offer question-free refund 14 days or so, perhaps through something like that?
IDK if you're involved in Bitcoin (or Cryptocurrencies in general), it's a little like that. You got a "private key" (well, one per wallet), everyone who has that can transfer funds from your wallet (and, is the "owner" of it).