Michigan and other states are raising penalties for gift card scams, just as holiday texts and card purchases make fraud harder to spot.
Michigan is one of several states making penalties tougher for people who use gift cards to scam others. The news comes as the holiday shopping rush begins, a time when scammers expect odd texts and card purchases to go unnoticed.
The report comes from Susan Tompor of the Detroit Free Press. It says Michigan and other states are adding tougher penalties for gift card scams. The material does not say which other states are involved, what the new penalties are, or when they take effect.
Scammers often begin with a harmless-looking text. It may seem friendly or random. If you reply, they push you to buy gift cards. During the holidays, that request can look normal, because many people really are buying cards as gifts.
Anyone with a phone can get these texts. Shoppers, older adults and business owners buying cards for staff or clients are especially exposed. A text that seems to come from a boss or relative asking for cards is a common setup.
The alert box above lists the steps. The core idea is simple: do not answer unknown numbers, and confirm any card request by calling a number you already have.
Tougher penalties may help after the fact, but they do not stop a scam while it is happening. Details on how the new rules will be enforced are not yet known. Until they are, checking who is really asking remains the best protection.
Before buying any gift card someone asked for by text, call that person on a number you already have.
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