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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Posts
    1

    Default Using Prepaid Credit Cards to Steal Rented Goods

    Redbox is a United States movie/game rental vending machine that charges $1 per day for a rental. They charge $1 per day for being late to return the movie, as well as a certain fee for not returning the movie. On a certain forum that rhymes with TrickDeals, people are openly discussing about renting the movie with a prepaid Visa/Amex gift card, with a balance of a few dollars, and not returning the movie, effectively having paid very little for the movie.

    Now, this is completely unethical and illegitimate, but I want to know what kind of laws this violates.

    People on the forum will constantly and consistently quote this as credit card fraud, shoplifting, or whatever else.
    I know this isn't credit card fraud because the cards are (supposedly) legit, and I doubt it can be classified as shoplifting.

    So what is this?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    OH10
    Posts
    17,019

    Default Re: What Kind of Activity is This

    Fraud and theft by deception.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    24,521

    Default Re: What Kind of Activity is This

    It's certainly theft. I will leave it to others to determine the exact charge, which will to a certain extent depend on the state.

  4. #4

    Default Re: What Kind of Activity is This

    Technically it falls under a form of fraud, because the consumer would be knowingly building a balance due against a purposefully under-funded card. Although a prosecutor may have a hard time proving intent, if intent is an element of the un-named state's fraud statute, a nice big stack of fraud charges certainly would give the prosecutor bargaining leverage and a lot of leeway in what to ultimately charge against the suspect.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: What Kind of Activity is This

    It could be one of a whole range of offenses, depending upon what state is involved and how hard a prosecutor wants to come down on the thief.

    It could be credit card fraud, depending on the wording of the statute. It could be one of a number of forms of larceny. It could fall under a general fraud statute. Heck - it involves credit cards, multiple offenses, and an interstate conspiracy - let's bring in the feds and RICO.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Indianapolis, Indiana
    Posts
    346

    Default Re: What Kind of Activity is This

    It sounds akin to writing a bad check. Here in Indiana that would be considered a crime if not made good but prosecutions are rarely pursued.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: What Kind of Activity is This

    Actually, it sounds very little like writing a bad check.

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