Burke Resident Reports Gas Rewards Points Stolen
Woman warns against having a phone number connected to supermarket rewards accounts.
By Beth Lawton
May 23, 2012
http://burke.patch.com/articles/burke-resident-reports-gas-rewards-points-stolen

A woman reported someone used her phone number to access her supermarket gas rewards points to purchase discounted gas without her knowledge or permission.

Burke resident Jennifer Milton had built up points through the popular local Giant gas rewards program. Through the program, Giant customers can earn points for every dollar they spend on groceries or prescriptions, with bonus points for purchasing certain combinations of items. The points are then redeemable at local participating Shell gasoline stations—100 points earns customers 10-cents off a gallon of gas.

Milton noticed her points were missing recently and, through calls to Giant supermarkets, learned someone had used her points at a local Shell station.

The person who used her points was able to do so because Milton’s phone number was connected to her Giant rewards card, and the phone number can be used as a substitute for the Giant rewards card account number.

One Giant representative Milton spoke with told her some Shell gas stations are not allowing customers to use a phone number to access rewards points.

Giant is refunding Milton’s points and has detached her phone number from her account—something Milton suggests everyone do.

Police have not received any reports of this type of theft, said Lucy Caldwell, public information officer for Fairfax County Police. “We’d advise someone to share their info with clerks quietly or write info down (similar to when asking a bank teller for your balance),” Caldwell wrote in an email to Patch. “You never know who may be listening and what intentions people may have.”

If you suspect your points have been used without authorization, Giant is able to track where your points were spent.

Giant Food of Landover, Md. sent Patch the following statement:

“Our Giant Gas Rewards program is one of the best ways we help our customers save money on two of the biggest items in a family’s budget—food and fuel. We continually review the operating procedures for this very successful and popular program to ensure the most convenient and secure experience for our customers. Customers can reach out to Giant directly with any questions or concerns either in store by talking to their store manager or by calling Giant’s Customer Care Center toll free at (888) 469-4426 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.”
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I don't know what I find more ridiculous...

The fact that this is a crime.
The fact that someone called the police about this.
The fact that the police issued a release about it.
The fact that McGruff, who typically posts quality content, saw fit to post this.

Bugsy Siegel Wrote:
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> I don't know what I find more ridiculous...
>
> The fact that this is a crime.
> The fact that someone called the police about
> this.
> The fact that the police issued a release about
> it.
> The fact that McGruff, who typically posts quality
> content, saw fit to post this.

All good questions. The answer is, this is just the icing on the cake or a prelude to bigger abuses through the same vulnerability...

"Milton noticed her points were missing recently and, through calls to Giant supermarkets, learned someone had used her points at a local Shell station.

The person who used her points was able to do so because Milton’s phone number was connected to her Giant rewards card, and the phone number can be used as a substitute for the Giant rewards card account number."

yeah................well she needs to stop calling the cops about this and start talking to her kid and their friends who are using the damn card...................

Who has time to worry about this petty stuff in life? She needs something to do. Anything!

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
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> yeah................well she needs to stop calling
> the cops about this and start talking to her kid
> and their friends who are using the damn
> card...................

The truth is, that if this happened to Gordon then this thread would be blowing up with content on what the cops, county, and everyone should be doing next. I'm shocked Gordon, I expected more out of you on this one.

Unfucking believable. I know the price of gas and other shit is like Cocaine, but how is there a crime? Intent, action.

Use your own phone number, keep it secret, and guess what-all grocery store cards/reward points are linked to one account anyhow. Same company. Someone used my phone #. Big deal. I won't waste county resources for such b.s.

Miltons are always getting ripped off
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SMH.....i am glad to see the county wasting my tax money to investigate this.

On another note, i am guessing it's probably someone she knows, or some clerk who rang her up when she was inline. Since they would ask for your number if u dont have ur card with you.

But who fucking cares...

@Mr. - are you telling me you see this crime on the same level as Gardner's or that kid tried to kill that cop at IHOP? really? REALLY?

pic unrelated
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Gordon Blvd Wrote:
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> @Mr. - are you telling me you see this crime on
> the same level as Gardner's or that kid tried to
> kill that cop at IHOP? really? REALLY?
>
> pic unrelated

Well no, but where's the passion for justice. Where is that spunk, and unfetted rage at the injustice? Where I ask? Where?

pic unrelated
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Who the fuck cares?!?

I can randomly enter any phone number that is local to a Giant and most likely find, within 2 or 3 tries, an active rewards number that has points in the account. Who is to say whether or not someone didn't just fat finger the phone number entry?

Shit like this is exactly the reason why I'll fucking move or expatriate to some saner place to live once my obligations are met here.

Hank Moody Wrote:
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> Who the fuck cares?!?
>
> Shit like this is exactly the reason why I'll
> fucking move or expatriate to some saner place to
> live once my obligations are met here.
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She's probably one of the same bitches who can't seem to turn left on a green arrow until the car in front of them completely clears the intersection.

Agreed, better to take the chance and ram them so the guy behind me can be happier that day because of the two second delay I prevented at risk of my car and life.

I put everything in my mama name. But that's alright, cuz I'm gon' ride (off her gas points). I only have 1/4 tank of gas in my new E-class.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/26/2012 03:32PM by flight risk.

@Hank - thats a damn good point - could be someone just found the number by accident and then has just kept on using it

@Mr -here's where my passion is right now :)
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justsayin Wrote:
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> Agreed, better to take the chance and ram them so
> the guy behind me can be happier that day because
> of the two second delay I prevented at risk of my
> car and life.

What the fuck are you talking about? Your pathetic attempt at sarcasm fucked up whatever feeble point you were trying to make.

How about the dumbasses just clear the fucking intersection when they have a green light?

You're probably one of the fuckers holding up the show. You've admitted that you read your email and texts while at traffic lights, right?

My points had disappeared when I got gas last time. I didn't report it though. It makes me wonder how many people this has happened to.

@Hank Moody - you need to learn to get up and leave like 10 minutes earlier.........it'll change yr life.
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