Consumer warning: Visually inspect gift cards at the store before purchasing

The following story is an account of two suspects busted in Florida – but their tale impacts all U.S. consumers. Two allegedly professional gift card scammers were busted and charged with tampering with gift cards at a local Martin County grocery store. The couple is reportedly part of a nationwide effort of gift card scammers who have been costing victims losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

An employee at the store alerted the Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) when they noticed the pair tampering with the gift card display. When deputies arrived, they questioned the couple and learned that both are suspects in a major theft ring operating state and nationwide. The couple has been in Florida since April but is linked to cases in Manatee, Sarasota, Lee, and North Port.

Investigators believe they have also targeted stores in Orlando, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami.

Suspects Caoyuan Liu and Lingham Chen are both from China. Liu is undocumented, while Chen is in the U.S. on a student visa. Both are being held at the Martin County Jail, and immigration detainers have been placed on them.

Part of the scam involves replacing new cards with cards stolen from other locations. The suspects scratch off the cards’ account seals to record the numbers before placing them back and resealing the packages. They then go to another location and place those cards among the new cards. When a customer purchases the card, they are unaware that it has been tampered with until it is activated – and the account balance shows zero.

Law enforcement officials are urging anyone who purchases a gift card to inspect it at the counter to ensure that the package shows no signs of tampering. Check to confirm that the account number and PIN code have not been scratched off. If there are even minor signs of tampering, such as a torn or resealed package, do not buy it and report it to the clerk.