Gift card tampering “card draining” scam warning issued

The Plumstead Township Police Department has been investigating multiple reports of gift card tampering, also known as “card draining,” involving hundreds of Visa Vanilla, Nike, and Apple gift cards at Giant and local retail stores.

However, there have been reports of this all over Bucks and Montgomery counties in November and December alone, as well as across the country.

Detective Larkin of the Plumstead Township Police Department recently arrested two individuals associated with gift card scamming.

Here is how it works: The offender(s) will discreetly take gift cards off the rack in the stores, neatly open or slightly adjust the gift card package to reveal the card numbers and pin-codes, copy this information, and return the gift cards to the racks. When a victim unknowingly purchases one of these compromised gift cards at the store, activates and adds value to the gift cards, the offender(s) will use the available funds.

Before you buy: Check all gift card packages for tampering or evidence it was opened. The Visa Vanilla gift card package does not need much tampering to reveal the secret pin-code, the package does not need to be opened. The Apple gift card package needs to be opened, but this can be done somewhat neatly.

Customers should be vigilant when purchasing gift cards, particularly during this holiday season, and examine the gift cards for signs of tampering prior to purchase (disturbed packaging, revealed PIN numbers). If a gift card is suspected of having been tampered with or opened, do not buy it and bring it to the store manager or service desk.

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