The post Drug Addicts Running Gift Card Scam At Alarming Rate appeared first on High Times.
Drug addicts have a tendency to get rather clever when it comes to getting money to support their habit without getting a job. One of the biggest scams going on this year is a gift card scam. This is when a person steals a high dollar item from a large retail outlet and then returns it to another location. Not for cash, though; for credit in the form of a gift card. These cards can then be used to generate cash.
The Game
A recent investigation by CNBC found that the gift card scam has become big business within the junkie culture. Desperate people steal from retail giants, like Walmart and Home Depot. And then return the merchandise to another location without a receipt. Excellent customer service is important to these chains. So the store will typically handle these types of transactions by simply issuing the person a gift card equal to the value of the product.
At this point, the person can sell the card at a discounted rate to pawn shops or online. Or even trade it out in the street in exchange for illegal drugs.
This scheme has been going on for several years. But law enforcement agencies say the practice of obtaining illegal gift cards has become more prominent recently in the midst of the opioid crisis. Back in the day, thieves would steal merchandise and liquidate it on the streets. But now they are simply using the gift card method, which makes it easier to generate cash through online sales and other venues.
What makes this situation good for criminals is police have not yet found a