Residents of Burleson, Texas, are being advised by the local police department to be vigilant when purchasing gift cards after a recent scam emerged in the area. A social media post from the Burleson Police Department reported yesterday detailed an incident where several gift cards were manipulated by scammers, affecting unknowing shoppers.
According to the police alert, these con artists have taken to switching out the barcodes on gift cards which, when scanned, redirects the funds to the scammer rather than loading onto the card intended for legitimate use, and the police want the community to know so they can protect themselves, the card tampering was noticed at one of the local stores where gift cards had been altered. The Burleson Police Department outlined a few steps to help shoppers avoid falling victim to such schemes, including choosing cards from behind the counter when possible and examining potential purchases for signs of tampering, such as lifted stickers or unusual textures.
Should individuals find themselves in possession of a dubious gift card, or if they have unwittingly lost money due to this scam, the Burleson Police Department urges them to report their experience to the store and connect with law enforcement by calling 817-426-9903.
