From what I can tell from Kitboga videos, all retail gift cards are a lucrative way to launder proceeds from scams. Valve was probably just more tired of dealing with it.
This kinda tracks. One time someone I knew bought a series of games on Steam at once, and his bank blocked them. In calling them, he learned that (in addition to some other circumstantial clue) their pattern recognition picks up on game purchases, since that’s an excellent target for someone who just stole a credit card. Scammers can often resell the games in some way, through some anonymity.
From what I can tell from Kitboga videos, all retail gift cards are a lucrative way to launder proceeds from scams. Valve was probably just more tired of dealing with it.
I actually think this might also potentially have something to do with the lawsuit regarding potential gambling on the platform.
Because children absolutely could buy gift cards and use them to open loot boxes etc. Not positive but just throwing that out there.
I absolutely could be completely wrong about this.
This kinda tracks. One time someone I knew bought a series of games on Steam at once, and his bank blocked them. In calling them, he learned that (in addition to some other circumstantial clue) their pattern recognition picks up on game purchases, since that’s an excellent target for someone who just stole a credit card. Scammers can often resell the games in some way, through some anonymity.