"Texas Authorities Crack Down on Gift Card Draining Scams with Multiple Arrests"

Two individuals from California were arrested in Texas for a "gift card draining" scheme involving over 4,100 tampered gift cards from stores like Apple, Sephora, Amazon, and Footlocker, saving consumers over $649,000. The scam involves fraudsters tampering with physical gift cards, placing them back on store shelves, and draining the cards once purchased, leaving buyers or recipients without funds. Authorities advise consumers to check for signs of tampering on gift cards and consider avoiding purchasing them altogether to avoid falling victim to such scams.