Texas officials say four suspects were arrested in a gift-card tampering operation spanning Texas and Arkansas. Investigators recovered hundreds of altered cards, representing more than $100,000 in potential losses from a single day’s activity.
The investigation began in June 2026 after Walgreens’ Major Crimes Investigative Team reported tampered cards on shelves in Willis. Officials say two suspects were arrested June 26 after agents observed them placing cards at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores in Sugar Land; another was arrested Aug. 24 at Walmart and Walgreens stores in Tyler, and a fourth at a nearby hotel.
Investigators say the suspects peeled back cards’ security coating to record activation codes and serial numbers, resealed the cards and returned them to store shelves. After a customer bought and activated one, the suspects allegedly drained its balance electronically. The FTC recommends checking cards for tampering and keeping the card number and store receipt in case a card has no balance.
