I recently bought an Event Cinemas gift card from eBay, the original listing had the barcode exposed - not the PIN just the barcode. The seller them blacked out the barcode, I bought the card having only ever seen the blacked out version of the photo and really didn't think much of it.
I went to check the gift card balance online when I received the card in the mail and found that it had only $2 left.
I contacted Event Cinemas and was told the card has been used, I didn't know how this was possible considering at the time it was used, the physical card itself was in the mail.
Apparently, if you are at the cinemas, all you need is a copy of a valid barcode to make purchases. You don't need the gift card.
Nothing is stopping you from taking a photo of a gift card at the shops and waiting for it to be activated then using it.
I've had this happen with three cards now.
If you are selling an Event Cinemas gift card on eBay DO NOT POST photos of the barcode as it can be stolen.
If you are thinking, well duh, dumb **bleep** don't buy gift cards like that. I didn't realise it was possible to use a photo of a barcode as payment.
Event Cinemas/Experience This did look into the incident but it sounds like they are still going to accept barcodes like this at the cinemas, here's what they said in an email to me:
In this instance it appears that your barcode was replicated and presented as a digital barcode (similar to our eGift Cards) which was scanned at cinema. Please note that gift card balances are accessed by the barcode/barcode number – the PIN is required for secure validation if redeeming online or when entered manually at point of sale – however if the barcode is present in cinema than it can simply be scanned for redemption.
In the same way you wouldn’t share a credit card number, it is the responsibility of the card holder to keep gift card data safe. In this instance, as the eBay seller had shared the card number on a public website, unfortunately we claim responsibility for this data being used and as such, we will not be able to compensate you for this loss. The original seller has been in touch with us however and we are of the understanding that you have since been refunded.
For peace of mind, I would strongly recommend buying Event Gift Cards direct from our online gift shop, in cinemas, or through our official third-party retailers (including Coles, Woolworths, and Australia Post).
