Scammers will sniff card info before activation, and poll the balance check site to see when the card is activated. They will then use the card to get merchandise which they ship to another market and sell for ~50-60% of retail value.
Like solar power, money laundering is inefficient, but it's valuable when the source material is zero-cost.
alt Hacker News
It's an anti-fraud measure.
Scammers will sniff card info before activation, and poll the balance check site to see when the card is activated. They will then use the card to get merchandise which they ship to another market and sell for ~50-60% of retail value.
Like solar power, money laundering is inefficient, but it's valuable when the source material is zero-cost.