Gift Card Fraud Prevention Alliance Celebrates Legislative Wins Nationwide

11 States Enact Tougher Penalties to Hold Criminals Accountable for Gift Card Fraud

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gift Card Fraud Prevention Alliance (GCFPA) today announced major progress in state-level efforts to combat gift card fraud, with 11 states (Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Utah) enacting legislation this session that criminalizes the offense as theft and forgery. In a strategic memo released today, GCFPA details that 22 states introduced bills modeled after its framework, marking a significant milestone in the growing fight against Organized Retail Crime.

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Led by the Retail Industry Leaders Association Communities Foundation (RCF), this legislative effort achieved strong bipartisan—and in many cases, near-unanimous—support. These new laws establish a foundation for additional states to follow suit in 2026 and beyond.

"Our success across the country stems from building a broad, bipartisan coalition that educated lawmakers and stakeholders about the need to protect consumers from gift card fraud," said Lisa LaBruno, Executive Director of the RILA Communities Foundation. "We strongly encourage other states to enact commonsense legislation that closes legal loopholes and prosecutes criminals perpetrating gift card tampering and scams."

Gift cards are a safe and convenient option for consumers; however, fraud schemes have become increasingly sophisticated—often linked to transnational criminal organizations and broader illegal networks.

Card issuers, retailers, and law enforcement are working collaboratively to combat gift card fraud and have made considerable progress in doing so. Through proactive collaboration, innovative security measures, and continued legislative advocacy, retailers, card issuers, and partners are committed to protecting consumers and preserving trust in the gift card marketplace.

Despite these proactive efforts, new laws are necessary to empower law enforcement and prevent fraud at its source, namely the criminal enterprises committing this large-scale fraud. Though law enforcement personnel have worked hard to combat these crimes, they lack the tools they need to effectively prosecute fraudsters. This legislative framework will modernize states' criminal laws to support the fight against gift card fraud.

"We're taking an all-encompassing approach to collaboration with our members and strategic partners to stop gift card fraud," added LaBruno. "Our goal is to ensure gift cards remain a trusted, reliable option for consumers—especially during life's most meaningful celebrations."

In addition to its legislative work, GCFPA supports ongoing investigations into gift card tampering, victim-assisted fraud, and other related crimes. The Alliance also promotes best-in-class risk mitigation strategies and continues to support state advocacy efforts to strengthen legal accountability.

To read the full GCFPA strategic memo, click here.

To learn more about the Gift Card Fraud Prevention Alliance, visit www.protectmygiftcard.com.

SOURCE Gift Card Fraud Prevention Alliance