Huge Chester County grocery stores hit by gift card scam – NBC10 Philadelphia

A man was arrested for suspected gift card fraud at several Giant grocery stores in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Back in March, the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department investigated several cases of “gift card abuse” that occurred at Giant Food Stores locations in Westtown Township and East Goshen Township.

In this type of fraud, police say suspects typically steal physical gift cards from stores and tamper with them.

Fraudsters first scratch off the protective film to reveal the card’s code. Once they have it, they stick the protective film back on and put the card back on the shelf, police said.

Once an unsuspecting customer purchases the compromised card and loads money onto it, fraudsters can use the recorded code to siphon off the money before the rightful owner can use it.

According to police, Dong Shao of Flushing, New York, was identified as a suspect during the investigation and an arrest warrant was issued for him.

According to police, Shao was later arrested in New York and extradited to Pennsylvania.