Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center Announces Arrests in Multi-State Gift Card Fraud Investigation
AUSTIN – The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC) today announced the arrest of two individuals connected to a multi-state gift card fraud scheme spanning Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.
On March 17, 2026, the suspects entered Texas and were identified committing gift card fraud in Amarillo. Following a coordinated intelligence effort between the FCIC’s North Texas Field Office and local law enforcement, Amarillo Police Department officers and detectives arrested the suspects within one hour of receiving the intelligence. The investigation confirmed that the individuals had compromised cards at three separate Amarillo locations prior to their arrest.
The Suspects and Charges: The individuals, identified as Colombian nationals currently subject to immigration detainers, are:
- Brusli Javier Romero Bajarano
- John Jairo Giraldo Cortes
Both individuals are charged with felony offenses under Section 32.56 of the Texas Penal Code: Fraudulent use, possession, or tampering with a gift card, gift card packaging, or gift card data. They are currently held in the Potter County Jail, and the case will be prosecuted by the Potter County District Attorney’s Office.
Understanding the Scheme: “Gift Card Cloning”
Gift card cloning is a sophisticated form of organized retail theft where criminals manipulate cards before they are even purchased. The process typically follows these steps:
- Tampering: Criminals take inactivated gift cards from store shelves and carefully bypass the security packaging to record the card’s account number and hidden PIN.
- Resealing: The packaging is meticulously resealed to appear “factory-new” before being returned to the display rack.
- Draining: Once an unsuspecting customer purchases and activates the card at the register, the criminals are alerted and immediately drain the balance electronically before the consumer can use it.
Consumer Protection Tips
The FCIC encourages Texas consumers to remain vigilant when purchasing gift cards:
- Inspect the Package: Look for signs of tampering, such as excess glue, “crinkled” security stickers, or visible damage to the cardboard.
- Pick from the Back: Select cards from the back of the display rack or those kept behind customer service counters.
- Report Suspicious Activity: If you find a card that appears tampered with, do not purchase it and immediately notify store personnel.