they emailed me saying that since my area code (arkansas) doesnt match my address (north dakota) they need secondary verification
here is the email
Quote:
Dear Jason Hanna,
Thank You for choosing GameCards.
We have received the payment for order #32488621130 and it is being processed.
In order to protect you as our customer and GameCards Store from potential fraudulent activity we require additional phone verification of your payment details.
To help us complete your order and effect digital delivery in the nearest time, please confirm that you are available over the phone number associated with your PayPal account for the prompt call back.
If for some reason you are unable to accept our call now, just make a reply to this e-mail stating your time zone and time frame when we can accomplish the verification.
Please note that any kind of VoIP numbers (including Skype) will not be accepted.
For prompt assistance contact our live-help operator and we'll be glad to help you 24/7 at GameCards EU Help Desk
Your personal details will never be used or shared on any purpose except for this one-time procedure. The item will be delivered right after the phone confirmation.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
James
GameCards: In Game within a Second
Customer Support Service
following this weird email, i decided to try out their online chat support (which i assume is the same guy emailing me)
heres the transcript
Quote:
Hanna, Jason A:
just got an email requesting i confirm my phone number. how do i do that?

Welcome Hanna, Jason A! Your request has been directed to the English Speaking Support (24/7) department. Please wait for GameCards consultant to answer your call.

Call accepted by GameCards consultant James. Currently in chat: James, Hanna, Jason A.
James:
Welcome to GameCards Customer Support. How can I help You?
Hanna, Jason A:
just got an email requesting i confirm my phone number. how do i do that?
James:
Actually, we have just sent you a message, please check your email box i a minute
Hanna, Jason A:
just got your email
Hanna, Jason A:
my phone number is registered with my paypal account. i have since moved from arkansas to north dakota (military). i dont have another number. you can call it if you want me to verify, or i can text something
James:
In this case we are ready to offer you an alternative verification way. All you need to do is to email us a picture of you, where you hold your ID close to your face. The photo in the ID should be seeable and all the information should be readable. Right after we get the e-mail with the data we will be able to process the order further. In our turn we would like to apologize for the possible inconvenience and assure you that all your next purchases will be emailed without any additional confirmation from our side.
Hanna, Jason A:
any govt id?
James:
Yes, if possible
Hanna, Jason A:
not going to lie this seems kinda shady
Hanna, Jason A:
wait a second. isnt this what paypal is for?
Hanna, Jason A:
i dont understand why you need to verify what paypal has already verified
James:
Paypal accounts get hi-jacked and misused rather often. So we are to request an additional verification step
Hanna, Jason A:
im sorry but i dont see how having a picture of my photo id and my face verifies anything. its easier to make something up with photoshop then it is to hack someones paypal account. if you are not willing to accept my paypal payment as is, i would like a refund
Hanna, Jason A:
i've bought a car with paypal and i didnt get this hassle
James:
We are very sorry, but since the order is delivered electronically the transaction is not covered with the Paypal Sellers protection policy. The verification helps to reduce the number of such cases
Hanna, Jason A:
please refund my purchase then
James:
Upon your request we have already cancelled the order and will complete a full refund in the nearest time.
Hanna, Jason A:
if i dont see a refund in the next 15 minutes i will have to dispute it
James:
Actually, the refund will take a few hours more due to its being a week-end, sir. We'll pass the refund request immediately and they'll issue moneyback as soon as available
Hanna, Jason A:
have you thought of sending a verification text out instead of asking people to send their picture with their id to a strager in another country?
James:
That information is not stored and is used for this one-time verification only
Hanna, Jason A:
y but i have no idea if that is true or not
Hanna, Jason A:
ya*
Hanna, Jason A:
paypal isnt backing up my picture and id from identification theft.
James:
Sure, sir, in this case we'll try to process the refund as soon as possible
Hanna, Jason A:
k thanks
if it was anymore then 10 bucks, and i wasnt using paypal, i wouldnt have risked it. we'll see if that refund shows up and if it doesnt
__________________
__________________
"the path of greatest resistance reaps the greatest rewards"
-me
Managed to get one subbed on my bank card like right after I turned 18 and it spiraled out of control. They're like all interlinked via different subsidiaries and use different customer support sites. Basically what happens is you cancel one and by canceling you agree to a "trial" on another site which then starts billing you under a different name and everything so you wind up stuck constantly getting screwed (no pun intended) by it. Ended up having to cancel my card just to get out of it.
Managed to get one subbed on my bank card like right after I turned 18 and it spiraled out of control. They're like all interlinked via different subsidiaries and use different customer support sites. Basically what happens is you cancel one and by canceling you agree to a "trial" on another site which then starts billing you under a different name and everything so you wind up stuck constantly getting screwed (no pun intended) by it. Ended up having to cancel my card just to get out of it.
By far the worst I have encountered is this place called www.cityfor..... Wait...
Back in the PS2 modding days, I somehow got hooked up with a guy in California that was into this 'new business' in a big way. I made a couple of purchases from him and felt pretty confident about this deal. After a while, I started noticing that people on the forum were getting quite agitated with him because he was taking their $$$ but not sending them their PS2s (all the while I am talking to this guy on the phone on a daily basis being told that everything is under control)
FFWD to 2+ weeks later and Im no longer hearing from this guy. After repeated calls and some internet recon, I managed to get ahold of his father. Then and only then did I get the real story behind this guy. He was SEVERELY Bi-Polar and had recently dropped off of his meds. It sucked as I no longer had contact with this guy, and he was starting to get death threats and people trying to organize a 'visit' to this guy. Eventually, my PS2s finally made it to my doorstep (I may have been one of the last remaining people to NOT get ripped off)
Man that sucked...
Another story will follow about a VW Parts dealer in Cali. THAT was fun...
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