Crime & Safety

Burke Resident Reports Gas Rewards Points Stolen

Woman warns against having a phone number connected to supermarket rewards accounts.

A woman reported someone used her phone number to access her supermarket gas rewards points to purchase discounted gas without her knowledge or permission.

Burke resident Jennifer Milton had built up points through the popular local Giant gas rewards program. Through the program, Giant customers can earn points for every dollar they spend on groceries or prescriptions, with bonus points for purchasing certain combinations of items. The points are then redeemable at local participating Shell gasoline stations—100 points earns customers 10-cents off a gallon of gas.

Milton noticed her points were missing recently and, through calls to Giant supermarkets, learned someone had used her points at a local Shell station.

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The person who used her points was able to do so because Milton’s phone number was connected to her Giant rewards card, and the phone number can be used as a substitute for the Giant rewards card account number.

One Giant representative Milton spoke with told her some Shell gas stations are not allowing customers to use a phone number to access rewards points.

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Giant is refunding Milton’s points and has detached her phone number from her account—something Milton suggests everyone do.

Police have not received any reports of this type of theft, said Lucy Caldwell, public information officer for Fairfax County Police. “We’d advise someone to share their info with clerks quietly or write info down (similar to when asking a bank teller for your balance),” Caldwell wrote in an email to Patch. “You never know who may be listening and what intentions people may have.”

If you suspect your points have been used without authorization, Giant is able to track where your points were spent.

Giant Food of Landover, Md. sent Patch the following statement:

“Our Giant Gas Rewards program is one of the best ways we help our customers save money on two of the biggest items in a family’s budget—food and fuel. We continually review the operating procedures for this very successful and popular program to ensure the most convenient and secure experience for our customers. Customers can reach out to Giant directly with any questions or concerns either in store by talking to their store manager or by calling Giant’s Customer Care Center toll free at (888) 469-4426 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.”


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