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Weird app paying you to scan receipts (lemmy.ml)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by PiraHxCx@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
32 comments fedilink hide all child comments

So my cousin was here and saw a grocery receipt on the table and asked if I was using it and if he could take a picture of it, I was like what, why?

So, there is this app that pays you some cents for receipt pictures and supposedly it pays you if it finds items that have cashback... shit sounds sketchy as fuck, I saw that on their app they sell credit cards and you can invest in some crap, but what I really found disturbing is this thing about them paying you to send them all your receipts... what the fuck are they doing with that info lol

Crazy stuff, but I'm completely out of touch with cellphone things, is this crap normal??? I was quite shocked by it, and checking the company online, Méliuz, I just see stuff about it buying bitcoin.

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[-] Ebby@lemmy.ssba.com 51 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Congratulations, you're in a new database.

I imagine it has a unique code (last digits of CC#) location and timestamp, and valuable purchase information advertisers are salivating over to profile you; and yes, I mean you, not your cousin. The only cash your cousin will see is just enough scraps to trigger feel-good responses so this can happen again.

Edit: if the receipt is indeed yours...

[-] PiraHxCx@lemmy.ml 41 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

No, I didn’t let him take the picture and send it to who knows who :P

He also wanted me to sign up because he would get a referral bonus, but I'm good.

[-] Ebby@lemmy.ssba.com 20 points 1 month ago

Smart move 👍

[-] ErenOnizuka@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 month ago

How would they be able to know that OP was the one making the purchases and not the cousin?

The cousin is the one uploading the picture.

[-] Ebby@lemmy.ssba.com 7 points 1 month ago

Many stores have installed Bluetooth beacon tracking that will monitor all customers cell phones (or other Bluetooth devices) precise location throughout the store.

The items on the receipt can work as a "checksum" for a specific pattern around that time of day.

Self checkouts also have cameras that can identify biometrics, repeat shoppers, and other data points for a profile. But it's not known is the customer used one of those kiosks.

[-] ErenOnizuka@lemmy.dbzer0.com -2 points 1 month ago

Ehh?? How would that app know about the data the store potentially collects?

Many stores have installed Bluetooth beacon tracking that will monitor all customers cell phones

What? No one is doing that. Why would they? What if you have bluetooth disabled all the time like me because you don’t have any Bluetooth accessories, or to save power, or because Bluetooth is insecure.

Self checkouts also have cameras that can identify biometrics

??? The camera is just to check on the customers if they are scanning everything properly and not stealing. A human is reviewing the footage. A human is going to confront you if they detect you not scanning something.

They have absolutely no reason to store the video footage or even sell that to anyone. Besides, no one would buy that. Not even the app from OP‘s post.

You should put down your tinfoil hat.

[-] Ebby@lemmy.ssba.com 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Ehh?? How would that app know about the data the store potentially collects?

The app database and store database are separate, both containing duplicate data on the receipt or any affiliate data sharing that can facilitate de-anomyzation.

What? No one is doing that. Why would they? What if you have bluetooth disabled all the time like me because you don’t have any Bluetooth accessories, or to save power, or because Bluetooth is insecure.

A lot of retail -even my doctor office - do use this and have for a while.

BLE customer monitoring is certainly a thing. Here is an article from 2014: https://www.retail-innovation.com/carrefour-track-customer-journey-around-store-using-ble/

Here is a more modern ad-riddled writeup. https://www.encstore.com/blog/5162-a-step-by-step-guide-to-using-ble-beacons-in-retail

There is even a data broker claiming it records and updates your advertising profile before you get to the register. I wish I bookmarked that page when I read it years ago.

Disabling Bluetooth, I suspect, would stop tracking. Note some modern phones still respond to Bluetooth and tracking when powered off, such as the Pixel, unless Bluetooth is disabled before shutdown.

??? The camera is just to check on the customers if they are scanning everything properly and not stealing. A human is reviewing the footage.

Basic cameras can do that, but companies like Walmart and Home Depot have more advanced systems. Walmart profiles customers and can identify and alert staff/police to repeat problem customers. Home Depot has a class action case claiming it uses face detection technology. Heck, my cheap-ola off-the-shelf home security camera can track people and license plates straight out of the box. The Flock cameras tracking people and vehicles all over the cities use an OS released in 2017. This tech is prevalent now.

[-] ErenOnizuka@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 month ago

Ahh so this is a US only thing. What you are saying is: the united states of america is fucked.

Good luck.

[-] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

? The camera is just to check on the customers if they are scanning everything properly and not stealing.

the camera built in above the screen only sees your face, it cannot be used to check that.

[-] cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 28 points 1 month ago

My wife uses Fetch. Does a lot of this. She scans all our receipts but also receipts she finds. She’s gotten gift cards from it. I don’t trust it though.

[-] PiraHxCx@lemmy.ml 24 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I'm picturing people dumpster diving just to find receipts to scan. I didn't know this was a thing... hell, I always destroy my personal info on mail packages, gonna start destroying receipts as well.

[-] icelimit@lemmy.ml 11 points 1 month ago

Man. I never thought I should buy a shredder

[-] prex@aussie.zone 12 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Good for compost but I wouldn't compost receipts. Thermal paper is loaded with BPA.

[-] cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 month ago

They don't need to go dumpster diving. People leave plenty of receipts in self checkout printers or on the ground in the parking lot.

The only catch to that is, Fetch started getting wind of people doing that, so it might tell you that you have so much time to scan the barcode of one of the products included, or the entire receipt will be invalidated. If you just bought it, you would have it handy (so, best to scan the receipt as you unload the groceries, at home). If you found the receipt in the store, you might be able to find the merchandise in time, like a little one-shot game of Supermarket Sweep. But if you found it outside the store... your chances go down a bit. And, I think, if you have too many receipts invalidated, they might just brand you a cheater and kick you off the program. But I'm not really sure.

[-] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

I've often wondered if typical retail receipts contain any sensitive info which would give me reason to shred them before discarding but the worst thing on there is last four digits of whichever card I used, and the merchant address, date/time, what I bought, but nothing directly tying it to ME unless some weirdo wants to figure out how to correlate people with last 4 of card numbers, but how inanely ridiculous that would be...yet here we are apparently 🤦🏼‍♀️

[-] tektite@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 month ago

Sometimes the cardholder's name will be printed on the receipt.

[-] dgriffith@aussie.zone 15 points 1 month ago

I wonder how it goes with AI-generated receipts.

[-] artyom@piefed.social 25 points 1 month ago

what the fuck are they doing with that info lol

Collecting it and either selling it to databrokers or using it directly to target you with ads.

[-] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 17 points 1 month ago

That sounds like super sketch, bro. I can't believe normies are into that kind of shit. Okay, well actually I can, but it just makes me a little sad. 😭

[-] brickfrog@lemmy.dbzer0.com 16 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

The Google Rewards Opinion app does this, scan receipts or answer random questions for Google Play cash. I assume they do it for market research to figure out better advertising (Google is in the advertising business after all).

Never heard of other apps doing that but I'm sure it's the same idea, other apps must use or sell that data to ad brokers.

[-] reallykindasorta@slrpnk.net 14 points 1 month ago

I was bored so I looked up these apps for receipt scanning and it looks like it’s a combination of couponing and consumer data broker. Most of them require you to activate promos on the app first, go shopping, then get “cash back” for certain promo items when you take a picture of the receipt.

I’m guessing this is on top of the discounts you can get directly from grocery store apps (which are surely already brokering purchase data).

One or two of the apps don’t require activating offers at all so I guess those ones are JUST data brokering.

[-] HotChickenFeet@sopuli.xyz 10 points 1 month ago

Another interesting one I've seen: Upside.

It isn't necessarily encouraging to buy a specific product, but rather to buy from specific businesses.

To the consumer: they look at the app and buy gas from participating stores, which typically show as having a 5-10 cent discount on gas. The customer uploads a picture of their receipt to confirm the purchase and amount, and get credited that discount. Theres a monthly purvhase target that unlocks a 1 time discount of 30 cents per gallon, etc.

To the business: they pay a fee to Upside to be a participant. Upside promises to only participate with a certain % of stores in the area. It's likely the business also pays for some of the discounts obtained.

Essentially paying upside is meant to increase sales volume. While a gas station could just dicount their gas, they are paying Upaide to effectively advertise and steer consumers to THAT store. As Upside is national, many custpmers use it, even in unfamiliar areas to choose gas stations.

I say not a specific product, because my understanding is it's extended to other business categories besides gas.

Market manipulation, ultimately. I'm sure in some part they are sellong your location & purchase data as well.

[-] hexagonwin@lemmy.sdf.org 10 points 1 month ago

can't believe there are people actually falling for this scam.. this should be illegal

[-] icelimit@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

I see a counter scam - it should be much easier to forge a receipt. Automate and profit.

[-] hexagonwin@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 month ago

lol this actually sounds like a good idea

[-] icelimit@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago

Way ahead of ya

[-] copyscam@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 month ago

I do this with an old phone on wifi. I don't think it's a huge deal. I use fetch and haven't seen any ads or credit card offers etc. you just exchange points for gift cards. I know it's probably harvesting some data from me, but I don't really use that phone for much else, and I use a VPN/not my real email.

[-] ki9@lemmy.gf4.pw 2 points 1 month ago

Your own wifi? Look into residential proxies. Much worse than harvesting your data.

[-] copyscam@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago

My router is on a VPN

[-] ki9@lemmy.gf4.pw 1 points 1 month ago

That's good. I mean you're still shooting yourself in the foot a little if you use the same vpn for your own outbound traffic. Either way, the ip reputation is damaged but at least you can turn the vpn off and use your clean IP when needed.

You should isolate that phone from other devices on LAN too. Krebs just wrote an article about hackers using res proxies to move laterally through local networks, generally to infect other vulnerable devices like TV boxes.

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2026/01/the-kimwolf-botnet-is-stalking-your-local-network/

[-] ki9@lemmy.gf4.pw 1 points 1 month ago

I don't know but I am also very suspicious of these apps.

Maybe they are monetizing by selling your connection as a residential proxy. The receipts are probably a ruse to get you to keep opening the app so it stays active.

I wouldn't let this cousin on my wifi.

this post was submitted on 01 Jan 2026
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