Pocatello couple had more than $900 in gift cards stolen

Peter Koppenberger and his fiance are out of more than $900 in American Express gift cards.

The hardworking couple who is about to be married received two $500 gift cards as a house warming present from Koppenberger’s parents. When they tried to use them, there was only $5.35 left on one of the cards, the other had none.

Koppenberger says he saw nothing wrong with the packaging when they arrived at his house. In fact, the cards were still perfectly sealed tight in their package.

He says they tried using them at Lowes to buy things for their new house, but couldn’t understand why their cards had insufficient funds.

“I did a lot of research online. And found this is an ongoing issue with American Express gift cards,” said Koppenberger.

He called a number which directed him to some foreign headquarters overseas. They instructed him to send a number of documents over to them, including a copy of his photo ID. This was all to help him get his money back, but he felt even more in doubt and helpless.

He says the fraudster purchased 3 or 4 different items in 3 different cities throughout the country with his gift cards.

And with no answers of how this happened, or even when his money might return to him, he continues to wait for a call back from American Express.