Whitmer Signed Legislation Prohibiting Gift Card Fraud

New laws amend the Organized Retail Crime Act to outlaw tampering with gift cards and fraudulent fund access.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Financial Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing two featureless geometric cards, evoking new consumer protection regulations against retail fraud. — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed new legislation amending the Organized Retail Crime Act to explicitly criminalize the tampering and fraudulent use of gift cards. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed House Bills 4598 and 4599 into law, officially criminalizing gift card fraud in Michigan. The legislation aims to protect consumers by prohibiting the unauthorized acquisition of redemption information and the physical tampering of cards.

Why it matters

This legislative update specifically expands the Organized Retail Crime Act to address evolving digital and physical fraud tactics targeting consumer gift cards. By codifying these prohibitions, the state provides law enforcement with clearer authority to prosecute perpetrators of these retail crimes.

The new laws criminalize the unauthorized acquisition of gift card redemption information and the tampering or alteration of physical gift cards. These measures officially incorporate these fraud tactics under the jurisdiction of the Organized Retail Crime Act.

The players

Gretchen Whitmer

She is the current Governor of Michigan who signed the recent legislative package into law.

The details

The bills define gift card redemption information as the unique data required to access funds stored on the card. Beyond the fraud protections, the Governor also signed a package of other bills addressing topics such as cannabis education, child transport, and land management.

Governor Whitmer signed the multiple bills into law on October 5, 2026.

Legal Context

This move follows a pattern of state legislatures updating the Organized Retail Crime Act to address emerging threats to retail security. By targeting gift card fraud specifically, Michigan mirrors other states that have recently expanded statutes to include digital or card-based financial theft.

Residents and shoppers in Michigan gain stronger legal protections against schemes involving altered or compromised gift cards. This legislation serves to deter scammers and potentially provides consumers with better pathways for reporting fraudulent activity at retail establishments.

The takeaway

Consumers should be vigilant when purchasing gift cards, ensuring the packaging has not been tampered with or altered. Checking the physical integrity of a card before purchase can help avoid falling victim to fraudulent fund access.