Police In Bucks Warning Shoppers To Beware Of Gift Card Tampering Scam

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — If you're buying gift cards this holiday season, make sure they haven't been compromised, police are telling shoppers.

A new scam - gift card tampering - is being reported across the nation, including here in Bucks County.

Two reports of gift card tampering, also known as 'card draining,' are currently under investigation in New Britain Township. The incidents involve more than 100 Visa Vanilla and Apple gift cards purchased from Giant, police said.

On Monday, Plumstead Township Police announced charges against two California men who had brought compromised gift cards into a township grocery store for fraudulent purposes.

According to police, the offenders will discreetly take gift cards off the store rack, neatly open or slightly adjust the gift card package to reveal the card numbers and pin-codes, copy the information, and return the gift cards to the racks. When a victim purchases one of these
unknowingly compromised gift cards at the store, activates it and adds value to the gift cards, the offender will use the available funds.

Before buying a gift card, police urge shoppers to check all gift card packages for tampering or if it was opened. The Visa Vanilla gift card package does not need much tampering to reveal the secret pin-code and the package does not need to be opened. The Apple gift card package needs to be opened, but it can be done somewhat neatly, police said.

"If a gift card is suspected to have been tampered with or opened, do not buy it and bring it to the store manager or service desk," said police.