Walgreens $300 Gift Card Vanishes in Scandal of Gift Card Draining

A $300 Walgreens gift card disappeared after a suspected tampering scam, sending a ripple of concern through the consumer‑gift‑card market.

The Disappearing Balance

David Wimett bought a new Walgreens gift card and inspected it for any obvious tampering—no open seams or tape. “I looked to see if it was open or taped. Nothing. I couldn’t see anything wrong with it,” he told NBC 5. When his wife tried to redeem the card a few days later, the $300 balance was gone. Wimett, who has purchased gift cards for years without issue, said, “It kind of shocked me.” He believes the card was tampered with before his purchase and drained.

How the Scam Works

Investigators from the Burleson Police Department and other agencies explain the process: thieves acquire new gift cards from stores, copy the redemption code, reseal the card, and return it to the shelf. When a consumer loads money onto the compromised card, the thieves use computer software to drain the balance. The Department of Homeland Security reports that organized crime groups based in China use stolen gift‑card funds to buy high‑value items and resell them overseas.

Law Enforcement Response

In North Texas, law enforcement has made arrests related to gift‑card tampering—two in Plano and two in Burleson. Burleson Police Officer Jay Davis said, “The people that are doing this are really good at what they do.” He urged shoppers to check for wrinkles, tears, or scratch marks on gift‑card packages, noting that signs of tampering can be subtle. “If they can make it look just like it was when it was put on the shelf, the more they can make it look like that, the more of a chance they have at stealing your money,” Davis added. Collin Gregory, a crime‑prevention specialist with the department, described the practice as “the easiest gift that you can possibly give to someone and the bad guys know that.” He added that thieves target the current trend of multiple off‑the‑shelf purchases.

New Legislation and Retail Countermeasures

Texas lawmakers updated the penal code in September to include gift‑card tampering as a crime. Meanwhile, Target redesigned its cards, moving the access code from the back to a PIN given at the register. The Retail Gift Card Association (RGCA) said companies are flagging fraud with PIN‑balance checks and dynamic PINs. RGCA Executive Director Karice Moore explained, “There are PIN balance checks in place to make sure that someone’s not looking at the PIN, at the balance on that card too many times. There are PIN protections that go into place that could create a dynamic PIN, so it’s not always the same.” She advised consumers to contact the company listed on the back of the card first, then the store, for refunds on suspected tampered cards.

The Consumer’s Battle

Wimett initially went to Walgreens, bought the card, and was directed to InComm Payments, the issuer on the back. He expressed frustration: “Very frustrating. I kept getting the run around, call here, email this, do this. That’s when I started getting fed up,” he told NBC 5. After NBC 5 reached out, InComm replaced Wimett’s card but declined to comment on the specific case. Their spokesperson said, “We do not comment on individual cases due to policy and privacy restrictions, but we can share that we maintain vigilance by leveraging new technologies, packaging techniques, monitoring systems and other security practices to help protect consumers.”

Walgreens reiterated its policy: consumers should contact the issuer first; if directed back to Walgreens, the customer‑care gift‑card team will assist. The team can be reached at 877‑865‑9130, and Walgreens advises having proof of purchase and the card number handy. Walgreens also explained that it limits the number of gift cards on the sales floor and keeps overstock in a secure location.

Practical Tips for Shoppers

Wimett now cautions buyers to keep receipts. “I think that’s what helped me tremendously because, I’ll be honest, usually, I’ll just throw it away,” he said. The RGCA recommends two receipts: one for the shopper and one to attach to the card. Report any issue quickly. Checking the balance on the website printed on the card’s back is advised, and typing the address manually can avoid spoof sites that capture redemption information. Burleson Police suggest looking for locked‑up cards in stores or buying e‑gift cards directly from trusted brands online. The FTC warns consumers to ensure protective stickers are intact, no tampering signs, and that the PIN on the back isn’t visible through packaging. Taking a picture of the card and receipt can help file a report. The FTC also advises shopping at known, trusted stores and avoiding online auction sites where cards may be fake or stolen.

Key Takeaways

• A $300 Walgreens gift card vanished after suspected tampering.
• Law enforcement in Texas has arrested individuals linked to the scam.
• Retailers and associations are implementing PIN‑based security and dynamic PINs.
• Consumers should keep receipts, verify packaging, and report issues promptly.

The incident underscores a growing threat in the gift‑card market. With new laws, retailer safeguards, and consumer vigilance, the industry hopes to curb the rising tide of gift‑card draining scams.