VIDEO: Senator Moody Targets Gift Card Fraudsters and Fights to Protect Seniors

Home How Can I Help? News Contact Us Share Your Opinion Federal Nominations Scheduling Request Storm Preparation About Search for: Home How Can I Help? News Contact Us Share Your Opinion Federal Nominations Scheduling Request Storm Preparation About All News VIDEO: Senator Moody Targets Gift Card Fraudsters and Fights to Protect Seniors Aug 4, 2026 WASHINGTON, D.C. —Senator Ashley Moody is targeting gift card fraudsters with new legislation to combat criminals who target seniors. Senator Moody introduced the Saving Wallets and Increasing Penalties for Elder Scams (SWIPES) Act to give law enforcement stronger tools to prosecute gift card fraud, close loopholes criminals exploit and impose tougher penalties on those who knowingly target seniors. Gift card fraud occurs in many forms. In some instances, fraudsters execute elaborate schemes where the criminals rob physical cards from stores, steal the redemption information on the back of the cards, and then place the cards back in stores for unsuspecting shoppers to purchase. Once someone buys a card that has been tampered with and loads money onto it, the fraudsters are able to immediately withdraw the funds. “Career fraudsters are constantly finding new ways to steal from hardworking Floridians—especially our seniors. One emerging trend we are seeing within the Fraud Economy is the proliferation of gift card fraud. We must shore up our laws as fast as these criminals change their strategies. That’s why I am continuing the fight against fraud with my new SWIPES Act. I’ve put crooks and fraudsters behind bars my entire career from prosecutor and judge to Florida’s Attorney General. Now, as your U.S. Senator, I am using that experience to strengthen our laws to hold criminals accountable and protect consumers,” said Senator Ashley Moody. Gift card thieves also call individuals, many times seniors, pretending to be someone they are not in order to con the victims into handing over gift cards’ redemption information. Fraudsters are also known to set up fake websites that appear like legitimate sites consumers use to check gift card balances, and when a victim inputs the card’s information, the fraudsters can steal the funds. BACKGROUND: Federal law enforcement is aggressively targeting this major, growing financial crime and has successfully prosecuted some gift card fraud cases already with dollar losses ranging from $20,000 to $11 million. Senator Moody’s SWIPES Act: Amends the access device fraud statute – frequently used by prosecutors in gift card fraud cases – to create a crime for obtaining an access device with fraudulent intent, including by creating, maintaining, or using a spoof domain that collects access device information; Ensures these criminals face the same penalties as other fraudsters; Increases penalties for offenders charged with possession of large numbers of fraudulent devices; Clarifies the law to expressly state that gift cards, digital credentials, and other information can be counterfeited, used without authorization, or otherwise fraudulently obtained to steal gift card funds and digital assets from an individual; Creates an additional 2-year sentence for any criminal who knowingly defrauds someone over the age of 60; and Expressly includes gift card fraud within the scope of money laundering statutes where applicable. For full bill text, click here . The following are some recent cases of gift card fraud found in Florida: In September 2025, a Chinese national pleaded guilty for participating in a gift card fraud scheme that targeted grocery stores in St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. In December 2024, a Chinese national pleaded guilty to possessing over 6,100 unauthorized gift cards, resulting in fraud of more than $1.9 million, following a joint investigation with HSI Orlando and the Ocala Police Department. Senator Moody, as Florida’s former Attorney General worked to protect consumers and fight for Florida’s seniors: As Attorney General, Moody created Florida’s Senior Protection Team comprised of leading experts from the AG’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, Consumer Protection Division, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Criminal Justice Programs Unit, as well as specifically-designated FDLE agents from around the state; Organized and formalized a Consumer Alert program to warn Floridians about scams involving gift cards, tax returns, identity theft, email phishing and more; and Created the Scams at a Glance outreach program, designed to inform older Floridians about common and emerging scams. The materials highlighted general signs of scams, such as unsolicited calls or email, high-pressure tactics, threats of loss if immediate action is not taken and requests for immediate payment via wire transfer, credit, prepaid debit or gift cards. # # # Join the Newsletter Email Address First Name Last Name Follow Follow Follow Follow Copyright 2024 Follow Follow Follow Follow Usage Policy PDF Help Privacy Pol