…gift card scam likely padding Chinese bank accounts

the suspect would obtain legitimate gift cards from store shelves and “surgically remove” the glue that covers the cards’ bar codes.

He would then allegedly record the PINs, re-conceal the bar codes with glue and return the cards to store shelves.

…investigation revealed Sun was part of a scam that tampered with gift cards, scanned the bar code and stole money from the gift card as money was loaded on them. Victims are completely unaware it is happening, and the money is often siphoned to an offshore account within seconds. Their investigation revealed that the operation spanned across California and several regions nationwide,” a press release stated.

After the tampered gift cards were returned to shelves, unsuspecting shoppers would then purchase one of the cards and load funds onto it.

The money, however, would immediately transfer to a bank account, in this case likely a Chinese bank account, Gandhi said.

“It’s going to go unreported because are you going to confront somebody who gave you a $0 gift card? No, that’s rude. And then you’re sitting there fat, dumb and happy, thinking, ‘Oh, I did something nice for somebody,’ not knowing that your money’s gone,” he said.

The sticker covering the pin was only added a few years ago.

Invent better anti-theft measures and someone will invent a better thief.

Because of lax laws and enforcement we are being turned into a Low-Trust society.  The innate trust we all had in each other and our society is being used against us.

This holiday season don’t EVER take a gift card from one of the open kiosks in the store.  Only buy gift cards from the person at the register or the gift cards that are available at the register under the direct view of the cashier.   And then check the pin location for tampering anyway.

Better yet, give cash.  Merry Christmas.