Houston Woman Loses $800 to Walmart Gift Card Fraud

In a concerning incident, a Houston woman, Susan Kunz, faced a significant loss after purchasing Walmart gift cards. She discovered that $800 worth of these cards had been mysteriously drained without her knowledge.

Key Points of the Incident:

1. Initial Discovery: Kunz bought $1,000 worth of Walmart gift cards, planning to donate them to needy families through her church. Upon checking, she found one card already empty.
2. Further Losses: As she probed further, two additional cards were found to be drained, totaling a loss of $800.
3. Multiple Locations Involved: The drained cards were used at different Walmart stores, raising questions about the security of these cards.

Kunz's Reaction and Actions:

• Shocked by the discovery, Kunz expressed concern over how such a breach could occur, especially considering the cards were always in her possession.
• With Walmart failing to offer a refund or a solution, Kunz filed a police report, suspecting possible insider involvement or a sophisticated scam targeting gift card users.
• Determined to get her money back, Kunz decided to provide direct monetary aid to the families instead of gift cards.

Broader Implications and Concerns:

• Kunz warns of potential widespread victimization, especially during the holiday season, where many might face similar issues with Walmart gift cards.
• She criticized Walmart’s lack of a substantial response and urged the company to investigate and prevent further incidents.

Kunz's Call to Action:

• Urging Walmart to take responsibility, Kunz suggested the removal of all gift cards from sale until the issue is resolved, to prevent further customer losses.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in gift card systems and the importance of prompt and responsible action by corporations to protect their customers.