How low can you go? Otis Josey, a 54-year old Detroit man, allegedly told a pre-school girl that he worked at a radio station and was raising donations for a children’s hospital charity. In exchange for a donation, he would give the donor a gift card. Police say he literally cheated the 5-year old girl out of her $5 lunch money in exchange for a fake $20 gift card to Chuck E. Cheese.

Questions:

1. Read the article by Ray Martin. What is one of the most reported gift card scams?
2. What does Martin recommend that you should do with an unwanted gift card?
3. How do most companies recognize the revenue from gift cards? What journal entries are involved?

Sources:

NBC Video.(2012). Man accused of selling child fake Chuck E. Cheese gift card, NBC News, April 26 (Retrievable at http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nbc-news/47178295/#47178295)

Martin, R. (2011). Attention Shoppers: Avoid this Gift Card Scam. CBS News, December 15 (Retrievable online at http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505145_162-57343690/attention-shoppers-avoid-this-gift-card-scam/)

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