The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office Uncovers Gift Card Scam

(KNSI) – A scammer stole money off a Walmart gift card bought by the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office for a family in need. The sheriff’s office says that on most Christmases the department identifies a family or two that might need a little extra help around the holidays.

The department bought cards and gave them to two families. A couple of weeks after presenting the gift cards, one of the families called to let the sheriff’s office know that when they went to use one of the gift cards that was supposed to have a $300 balance, there was only $24 and some change left on it.

They were able to get a receipt from Walmart where the gift card
was from that showed multiple purchases. The sheriff’s office says the items were purchased before the sheriff’s office gave the cards to the family. Investigator Andrew Struffert took over the case and was able to discern from the receipt where the card had been used and got video evidence, as well as good photos, and was able to identify a suspect.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant on a home in St. Cloud on January 21st and arrested a suspect and recovered several items believed to have been purchased with the card. Deputies say they also found evidence of a broader fraud operation and the tools used to commit fraud.

The question investigators had was, how did the culprits manage to do this without having the actual card in their possession? Investigators say the suspect went into Walmart and took a bunch of gift cards. The suspect then removed the coating on the back, which exposed the last four digits of the card, along with the PIN number. He then used the Walmart Pay app and loaded up the card information. Using special tools, he then reapplied a sticker over the numbers on the back and put the cards back. He then waited for someone to purchase and activate the card, at which point he received a notification that funds are available on the Walmart Pay app and would start spending the money.

The sheriff’s office says the scammers are so good at reapplying the covering over the numbers on the back, that one would probably never know that they were once removed. The sheriff’s office has shared the information with Walmart and other law enforcement agencies so they can be aware of this type of scam.

The case will be forwarded to the Stearns County Attorney’s Office for charging.

___