MoneyPak: The Definitive Guide

Introduction

MoneyPak cards are the first and largest of the reload packs to hit the market. They have been wildly popular among prepaid debit card users. However, no good deed goes unpunished. MoneyPak cards have also become a favorite for scammers. Thousands of dollars have been stolen from unsuspecting consumers who use MoneyPak cards. This is the ultimate guide of everything you need to know about Green Dot’s MoneyPak. We suggest reading and understanding this post before you choose to purchase this card. This will help mitigate risks and assist you with common questions you may have. If you have any questions regarding MoneyPak, we’d love to hear from you.

What Is A MoneyPak?

A MoneyPak is a card that allows users to add money to supported prepaid debit cards. Its a financial product created by Green Dot Inc., a leader in the prepaid debit card industry. MoneyPak reload cards can be purchased at participating retail stores such as CVS, Walgreens, 7-Eleven, Rite Aid, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, and other locations. A prepaid debit cardholder visits one of these retail locations, buy the MoneyPak card and load cash onto it, then transfer it onto their prepaid debit card using MoneyPak’s official website.

 

Can I Purchase a MoneyPak Card Online?

Yes and No. Green Dot has not authorize the selling of their MoneyPak cards online and on their official website they claim you cannot. So In that sense, no you cannot buy MoneyPak cards online. However, there’s nothing really preventing anyone from selling MoneyPak cards online. Once someone purchases a product that product becomes rightfully their own and the buyer can do whatever they want with it, even resell it online. Resellers will definitely face difficulty with using the company’s trademark and logos, but GreenDot technically cannot prevent anyone from reselling something rightfully purchased. This article from Entrepreneur.com explains the “first sale” doctrine.
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MoneyPak Scams

The “FBI MoneyPak Virus Scam” has been one of the most viral reload scams.
“Some people are looking to buy MoneyPak online to commit white collar and more serious fraud”

There are honest people that want to buy MoneyPak online because it is convenient. We recommend reading the “About Us” section of the website to see how we first got started with Reload Packs. Ethical local and family-owned businesses have used our online services and especially college students. Trust has always been a major part of our brand. During a brief time when we were only accepting Western Union wire transfers as payment, customers trusted we would do the right thing. We’ve had several customers wire us large orders of $750, $600, $400 and other large amounts. Not a single penny was missing from any of those transfers other than the agreed upon fee. We suggest not paying anyone through wire transfer, its an easy way to get scammed.

Unfortunately, not everyone is ethical. Around 2014 there was an uptick in MoneyPak scams. Vulnerable people were being threatened by scammers. The scammer would tell the individual that they owe money or have committed a crime and must pay a certain amount in the form of a MoneyPak. If they didn’t pay, the individual would face dire consequences. We have also been scammed out of $1,000 due to white collar fraud chargebacks. Scammers were even bold enough to use the FBI in their scam.

RELATED VIDEO: MoneyPak Reload Scam

FBI MoneyPak Virus Scam

The FBI MoneyPak virus scam was one of the most viral scams that hit many. The unsuspecting victim would visit a sketchy website or download an image, mp3, pdf file etc and unknowingly downloaded a malware virus. The virus would freeze the basic functions of the laptop claiming the “FBI” has blocked it for security reasons. The scammer would then request $200 or other large amounts to be sent in MoneyPak cards.

Do MoneyPak Scams Still Exist?

There are tons of articles and news story covering reload, gift card, prepaid card and wire scams on the internet. Elderly people are not on the internet as much so they are not as aware unless its televised. We encourage you to teach elderly family members about this scam so they are aware of this ongoing issue. The reason it’s hard to stop MoneyPak scams is that MoneyPak cards are as good as cash. Criminal leaves little trace after committing the fraud.

Green Dot had discontinued MoneyPak in 2015 because of the widespread scam. On the other hand, it affected Green Dot’s profits because MoneyPak were bringing in large amounts of business. In 2017 Green Dot brought back the MoneyPak card back. However, no longer were buyers anonymous. Users had to create an account to be able to use MoneyPak, provide government issue id and share their mobile phone information. It’s a step forward to fighting the scams.

Why Green Dot Does Not Offer MoneyPak Online

MoneyPak Online… It Seems Like A Great Idea Right?
There’s a good reason why Green Dot does not offer MoneyPak online. That reason is fraud. Financial services online is consider a high risk business, and a risky business it is. We’ll briefly discuss how we’ve learned this lesson the hard way.

How To Get A Refund From MoneyPak?

Maybe you loaded the wrong amount onto a MoneyPak, or possibly you loaded the right amount onto the MoneyPak but realize you no longer needed it. That’s okay because we are going to show you how to get a refund from your MoneyPak purchase.

Step-By-Step Instructions

• Visit MoneyPak
• Scratch off the back of your MoneyPak card to reveal the validation code.
• Fill out the form provided by MoneyPak
• Wait 1-2 weeks
• That’s It you’re done!

How Long Does MoneyPak Refund Take?

As stated on MoneyPak’s refund page, refunds typically arrive between 1-2 weeks after the buyer submits their refund request. A check will be mailed to the address provided.

What Prepaid Cards Work With MoneyPak?

Many prepaid debit cards support the use of MoneyPak cards. However, some of the most popular brands do not. NetSpend, Amex Serve, PayPal Prepaid and Walmart’s MoneyCard are an example of popular prepaid debit cards that do not support MoneyPak cards. Some people/websites claim that Amex Serve card supports MoneyPak but Serve’s website does not make that claim. On top of that we actually have an Amex Serve card and tried to add funds onto the card using a MoneyPak and it was not compatible. Below we have provided a list of prepaid debit cards that are known to work with MoneyPak.

Prepaid Debit Cards That Supports MoneyPak

1. Green Dot
2. Account Now
3. Movo Card
4. Rush Card
5. H&R Block Prepaid Card
6. Univision

How To Add MoneyPak To My Prepaid Card

Never used a MoneyPak card before? Don’t worry it’s simple to use. Below we provided a step-by-step easy to understand instructions on how to add money onto your prepaid card using a MoneyPak.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Create an account: Gone are the days where you can use a MoneyPak card without having an account. You must create a MoneyPak account to use a MoneyPak card, but first users must check if their prepaid debit card even supports the use of MoneyPak. Enter the prepaid card number that you want to load and proceed to create an account.MoneyPak supported Debit Cards

Visit a partnered retail store: Many partnered stores sell MoneyPak cards including CVS, Family Dollar, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Rite Aid, Walgreens, and more. To find the location nearest you visit the official locator by Green Dot or use Reload Packs unique locator tool.

Purchase a MoneyPak: Purchase the MoneyPak card. You can find them in the “Prepaid/Gift Card” section of the store. Load the MoneyPak card at the cash register between the amount of $20 – $500. There will be a fee of $3.95

Click “Deposit Money”: Once the MoneyPak card has been purchased and MoneyPak account has been created, users will once again visit MoneyPak.com and click the “Deposit Money” button.Deposit MoneyPak

Scratch off: Scratch off the strip located on the back of the MoneyPak card revealing the validation code. Users will need to type in this code onto the form of the website.Provide MoneyPak Number

Follow The Instructions: Follow the instructions provided by MoneyPak.

Do MoneyPak Cards Ever Expire?

No. MoneyPak cards are as good as cash and should be treated like cash. MoneyPak cards do not have an expiration date. However, we recommend using your MoneyPak card as soon as possible because unlike cash users can only load it on specific prepaid debit cards. If users decide they do not want the MoneyPak card, after all, they can request a refund which will take approximately 1-2 weeks.

Can I Cancel My MoneyPak Card?

Yes, you can cancel your MoneyPak card. Users that wish to cancel their MoneyPak card will be required to fill out a form on MoneyPak official refund page and request a refund. MoneyPak will review the form and contact the MoneyPak owner. The refund process takes approximately 1-2 weeks. We recommend each user go over their prepaid debit card needs before purchasing a MoneyPak. Requesting a refund constantly may present problems in the future.

Can I Reuse A MoneyPak Card?

No. Users cannot reuse the same MoneyPak card. Consumers should discard the MoneyPak card after use. However, users can purchase as many MoneyPak cards as needed. Users can not use the same validation code more than once. This is likely to prevent further fraud/scam than there already are.

What Stores Sell MoneyPak Cards?

There are many partnered retail stores that sell MoneyPak cards. Some of these retail stores will require that the buyer show government ID before buying them. This requirement as we mentioned earlier is to fight off fraud and scammers. Below is a list of popular retail stores that sell MoneyPak cards.

Stores That Sell MoneyPak Cards:

• CVS
• Walgreens
• Rite Aid
• Family Dollar
• Dollar General
• Dollar Tree
• Walmart

MoneyPak Customer Service Number?

Did something go wrong? Were you a victim of a scam? Contact MoneyPak customer service with the numbers provided below.

1-866-963-6219
1-800-473-3636

How To Check MoneyPak Balance?

You can only check your MoneyPak balance through MoneyPak’s official website www.moneypak.com. Any other website that claims they can check your MoneyPak balance is looking to steal your money. These sites are usually phishing websites that have a fake form built on their site. When a user types in their MoneyPak validation code that number is sent to another file. The website owner retrieves the validation code later and load cash onto their personal prepaid debit card.

Green Dot MoneyPak For Inmates

Most under-bank American citizens use Green Dot’s MoneyPak. Although they frown upon scammers and other undesirable usage of their products Green Dot does not exclude anyone from using their services and because of this Green Dot cards (known as “Dots” in prison) and MoneyPak are very popular in prison.

How It Works In Prison

An inmate would get a friend or family member to purchase a Green Dot card. The friend or family member will use their own personal information to create the Green Dot account or the inmates information while using another deliverable address. Green Dot then sends the personalized card to the address provided within 7 business days.

This card will provide the vital information such as the debit card number, the expiration date, and the CVV number. The inmate then receives this information. Family or friends can now funnel inmates money fast and within minutes using Green Dot’s MoneyPak card. The inmate now has cash to purchase things online or they will either trade the 14 digit MoneyPak validation code for other items being traded behind bars. Considering many inmates have Green Dot accounts using the above method, the MoneyPak validation codes become as good as cash when trading.

Because there are no physical cards entering the prison facilities, its hard to detect. Inmates are only receiving the card information. Green Dot and MoneyPak cards and other items are contraband in most prisons. Below are a few suggested readings if you are interested in learning more on how Green Dot & MoneyPak cards are being used by inmates.

Suggested Readings: Green Dot & MoneyPak Being Used By Inmates

1. A Message To Friends and Family of Incarcerated Inmates
2. Green Dot Cards Are Primary Source of Payment Among Inmates
3. Prepaid Cards, Phone Cards And Codes Are Inmates Currency
4. Three Plead Guilty In Green Dot Scam Run By Alabama DOC Inmates

You can also find interesting discussions around this topic at Prison Talk.