Man sentenced in Ohio gift card counterfeiting scheme

COSHOCTON, (Ohio) — A man who conducted a fake gift card scheme in Ohio was sentenced to prison.

Ming Xue, 32, was sentenced to four to six years in prison for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

Xue faced 308 felony counts of counterfeiting, but those charges were combined with the single charge. It was the largest indictment in Coshocton County history.

Xue had only been in the U.S. for four months when his criminal activity began, according to Yost. He was caught by Coshocton County deputies on Dec. 5, 2023 , while they were participating in the Shop with a Cop program when Xue was allegedly seen hiding unloaded gift cards on his body. When deputies checked his car, they found hundreds of other gift cards inside.

Xue was found to have stolen unloaded gift cards, altered them, and then returned them to display racks at various stores in the area. When consumers bought the altered gift cards and money was loaded on them, Xue and his associates stole the money

Yost applauded the sentence, saying it should make other scammers think twice about ripping off consumers.

“This is a stark reminder to bad actors: We won’t let you cash in on deceit,” Yost said. “Special thanks to the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office and the Prosecutor’s Office for their work in securing justice.”

To avoid falling victim to similar scams, Yost’s Consumer team urges Ohioans to take the following precautions when purchasing gift cards:

• Check the PIN: Ensure that the PIN on the back of the card hasn’t been scratched off or tampered with. Check whether the security film is crooked or has air bubbles, as this may indicate tampering.
• Track delivery: Monitor the delivery of gift cards via the U.S. Postal Service to prevent theft or accidental disposal. When mailing gift cards, consider taking them directly to the post office.
• Consider electronic options: Sending electronic gift cards to a verified email address or phone number can reduce the risk of physical theft.

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