KENTUCKY HOUSE MAJORITY CAUCUS
Frankfort, Kentucky (March 13, 2025) – Representative Chris Freeland of Benton released the following statement after the passage of Senate Bill 130, a measure which would include the tampering of gift cards as a Class D felony under the current credit card fraud statute:
“With the passage of Senate Bill 130, the General Assembly has taken an important step in protecting the people of Kentucky from one of the most pervasive methods of financial fraud currently spreading across our nation. Gift card fraud is a crime that directly impacts consumers, and can lead to hundreds of dollars lost to scammers. The story is all too common of someone buying a gift card, whether it be for themselves, a family member, or a friend, only to find out it is empty. This scenario is oftentimes the result of a highly organized effort by scammers who scan whole shelves of these cards, collect their information, and simply wait for them to be activated by a consumer before they proceed to drain the card. Exacerbating this issue however, is what these scammers do with the money on these cards. It has been discovered that many are affiliated with transnational criminal organizations that use these funds in order to finance activities such as money laundering, fentanyl production, illegal immigration, and human trafficking. I am proud to have carried Senate Bill 130 in the House for Senator Madon, and thank him for the work he has done to ensure that our commonwealth is protected from these efforts, and those responsible for defrauding our citizens receive the appropriate consequences.”
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Will Lampert
Communications Specialist
Office of the Speaker
Kentucky House of Representatives
Capitol Annex, Rm. 324 | 702 Capital Ave. | Frankfort, KY 40601 | 502-564-8100 ext. 59312, office
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The House Majority Caucus is committed to improving the quality of life for Kentuckians across the Commonwealth while preserving the values that we hold dear. Click here to learn more about what lawmakers accomplished during the 2024 Regular Session.