
Gift cards and the fraud supply chain
About this episode
For this week's holiday-inspired Complex Systems, Patrick reads his essay from Bits about Money on the gift card paradox: a legitimate payments rail, yet also a primary vector for fraud that leaves victims without recourse.
–
Full transcript available here: www.complexsystemspodcast.com/gift-cards-and-the-fraud-supply-chain/
–
Sponsors: Givewell & Framer
Support proven charities that deliver measurable results and learn how to maximize your charitable impact with GiveWell. Go to givewell.org, pick “Podcast” and enter Complex Systems at checkout.
Framer is a design and publishing platform that collapses the toolchain between wireframes and production-ready websites. Design, iterate, and publish in one workspace. Start free at framer.com/design with code COMPLEXSYSTEMS for a free month of Framer Pro.
–
Links:
- Bits about Money, Gift cards accountability sink https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/gift-card-accountability-sink/
- Global China Puise, Moving Bricks https://globalchinapulse.net/moving-bricks-money-laundering-practices-in-the-online-scam-industry/
–
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(04:02) Most businesses do not run their own gift card programs
(06:40) Sponsors: Givewell and Framer
(09:00) Most businesses do not run their own gift card programs (part 2)
(10:27) Gift cards are not regulated like other electronic payments instruments
(12:07) Why do we choose this difference in regulation?
Get every episode summarized
Each time Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11) publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11)

Defendant, Censor, Politico, Spy
Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11)

How the SPLC became financial infrastructure
Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11)

The honey badger of payments
Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11)

Cash received is not revenue earned
Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11)