Are Apple gift cards safe to redeem?
a day ago
- #Apple
- #Gift Cards
- #Account Security
- Paris Buttfield-Addison's Apple Account was locked after redeeming a tampered $500 Apple Gift Card, leading to loss of his iCloud and media purchases.
- Apple's Executive Relations team looked into the issue but initially failed to restore the account, leaving the reason for deactivation unexplained.
- Adam Engst suggests avoiding Apple Gift Cards due to the risk of account lockouts, comparing it to 'digital Russian roulette'.
- The high value of the gift card ($500) might have triggered suspicion, though Apple's limit is $2,000 in the US.
- Buttfield-Addison bought the card from a major retailer, raising concerns about the safety of gift cards from non-Apple sources.
- The incident highlights the lack of transparency in Apple's account deactivation process and the potential involvement of automated fraud detection systems.
- Buttfield-Addison's account was eventually restored by Apple's Executive Relations team, but questions remain about the safety of Apple Gift Cards and the resolution process.