Currys PC World

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Alias218

Original Poster:

1,496 posts

162 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
This is likely the wrong section, but the other section I have this thread in is something of forum backwater. Anyway, before the mods come along...

Today in the post I received a £50 gift card from Currys as a thankyou for buying a TV 6 weeks ago. Great, you think. However, the way the letter is written smacks of scam - poorly written, bad grammar, vague references to the 'Gift Card Team' and referring to me by my first initial and surname only. It's like the emails you get from time to time that are written in the same manner.

I did hand over my details when I bought the TV (name [in full], address, email etc.) to the sales rep for deals/bargains etc. However, nowhere on the TV or the sound bar I got with it did it mention a gift card for buying them, nor did the rep mention it.

I don't know how I could possibly be scammed in this manner as I don't need to enter any details of any sort - I can just go into store and use it. It's just odd. Why would they do this? Are their letters written by a bunch of illiterates? Who knows.

What do you make of it?

daemon

35,822 posts

197 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Alias218 said:
This is likely the wrong section, but the other section I have this thread in is something of forum backwater. Anyway, before the mods come along...

Today in the post I received a £50 gift card from Currys as a thankyou for buying a TV 6 weeks ago. Great, you think. However, the way the letter is written smacks of scam - poorly written, bad grammar, vague references to the 'Gift Card Team' and referring to me by my first initial and surname only. It's like the emails you get from time to time that are written in the same manner.

I did hand over my details when I bought the TV (name [in full], address, email etc.) to the sales rep for deals/bargains etc. However, nowhere on the TV or the sound bar I got with it did it mention a gift card for buying them, nor did the rep mention it.

I don't know how I could possibly be scammed in this manner as I don't need to enter any details of any sort - I can just go into store and use it. It's just odd. Why would they do this? Are their letters written by a bunch of illiterates? Who knows.

What do you make of it?
Are there not terms in small print associated with it? Such as £50 off a spend of £500 or more on washing machines between 10th Jan and 31st Jan 2107 or such like?

You could take it into a store and ask them to validate it?

Alias218

Original Poster:

1,496 posts

162 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Just the usual spiel on the back. No limiting factors as to what I can use it with so far as I can see. Apparently there are gift card scams around although ones like this potentially may be tend to hit the retailer rather than the consumer. It just strikes me as odd that they send me £50 out of the blue. It mentions the card is already activated and I must use it within 2 years of the activation date, although no such date is mentioned so it's anyone's guess as to when it was supposedly activated. Just adds to the suspicion. Seems like an omission Currys wouldn't make.

Worst comes to the worst I won't use it. It's only £50, and £50 I wasn't expecting at that. Just curious what people make of it.

benjijames28

1,702 posts

92 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
You could ring curry's and ask them if it's legit?

Alias218

Original Poster:

1,496 posts

162 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all



Alias218

Original Poster:

1,496 posts

162 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
benjijames28 said:
You could ring curry's and ask them if it's legit?
The thing with this is that the card in all likelihood is legit, only that it's had its number cloned. The gift card scams (apparently) use real cards, but they have been compromised. So far as Currys will be concerned it'll be the real deal.

daemon

35,822 posts

197 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Looks legit. Maybe there was an offer on at the time that you werent aware of?

Jag_NE

2,980 posts

100 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
just go back to the store and spend it you whopper what do you have to lose???

Alias218

Original Poster:

1,496 posts

162 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Maybe I'm just being cynical but all the same... I'll mull it over.

GoneAnon

1,703 posts

152 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Send it to me and I'll try to spend it. Worst that can happen is a red face if they refuse it.

daemon

35,822 posts

197 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
Alias218 said:
Maybe I'm just being cynical but all the same... I'll mull it over.
I cant see any harm in calling in to a store when you're passing and having them check if its legit.

Seems like a no brainer to me, moreso than something i'd need to "mull over".

Thorburn

2,399 posts

193 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
You can check the gift card code here: http://images.dixons.com/corporate_new/giftcard/in...

That'll tell you if its valid and the balance.

Alias218

Original Poster:

1,496 posts

162 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
You're probably all right, but I don't see why they would send it to me particularly after the sale is completed. They're just handing me £50. It definitely wasn't an offer either. It's all very odd, but I'll pass by the store and see what's what.

Thanks for your insights!

corozin

2,680 posts

271 months

Wednesday 7th December 2016
quotequote all
daemon said:
Alias218 said:
This is likely the wrong section, but the other section I have this thread in is something of forum backwater. Anyway, before the mods come along...

Today in the post I received a £50 gift card from Currys as a thankyou for buying a TV 6 weeks ago. Great, you think. However, the way the letter is written smacks of scam - poorly written, bad grammar, vague references to the 'Gift Card Team' and referring to me by my first initial and surname only. It's like the emails you get from time to time that are written in the same manner.

I did hand over my details when I bought the TV (name [in full], address, email etc.) to the sales rep for deals/bargains etc. However, nowhere on the TV or the sound bar I got with it did it mention a gift card for buying them, nor did the rep mention it.

I don't know how I could possibly be scammed in this manner as I don't need to enter any details of any sort - I can just go into store and use it. It's just odd. Why would they do this? Are their letters written by a bunch of illiterates? Who knows.

What do you make of it?
Are there not terms in small print associated with it? Such as £50 off a spend of £500 or more on washing machines between 10th Jan and 31st Jan 2107 or such like?

You could take it into a store and ask them to validate it?
Most likely offering you £50 off if you buy a new TV with Sound Bar... biggrin

TonyRPH

12,972 posts

168 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
My suspicions are raised by the fact that they constantly refer to your TV as "UE49KU6470" which I find odd.

I would at least expect them to state "SAMSUNG UE49KU6470" or "Samsung Television", and not just the model number like they have done.


droopsnoot

11,939 posts

242 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
It's a bit poorly-written, but sadly not significantly worse than a lot of letters are now. I'm not entirely surprised that they just refer to it by the model name, that'll just be poor "mail merge" from whoever set up the mailshot.

Hard to see what anyone gains from it being a scam, though. It does seem a bit strange, but if it were a scam you'd expect to have to be handing over information or money somehow.

Funk

26,277 posts

209 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
Looks legit to me, enjoy the £50!

davek_964

8,818 posts

175 months

Thursday 8th December 2016
quotequote all
Agreed, I'd say it looks genuine - not the best grammar, but I don't think it's as bad as most scam mails. And I doubt a scammer would know what TV you've bought anyway.

I bought a new TV 2 weeks ago through Currys - although online rather than in store. I haven't had a £50 voucher in the post. frown