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Bill

HD 887

An Act relative to gift card fraud

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Tackey Chan

Massachusetts bill criminalizing gift card fraud, establishing penalties for fraudulent acquisition, use, or distribution of gift cards to combat growing consumer harm.

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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 887

Legislative bill overview

HD 887 addresses gift card fraud by imposing penalties on individuals who fraudulently obtain, use, or distribute gift cards or gift card information. The bill likely establishes criminal liability for gift card-related schemes and may include provisions protecting consumers from unauthorized use of their gift cards.

Why is this important

Gift card fraud has grown substantially as digital commerce expands, with criminals targeting both retailers and consumers through various schemes (counterfeit cards, data theft, fraudulent activation). Clear statutory penalties create legal tools for prosecution and may deter criminal activity while providing consumer protection frameworks.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: Whether the bill's fraud definitions are narrow enough to avoid capturing legitimate business practices or broad enough to address evolving schemes
  • Penalty proportionality: Whether criminal penalties are appropriate for all gift card fraud scenarios or if some offenses warrant civil remedies instead
  • Retailer liability: Questions about whether retailers bear any responsibility for fraud prevention measures or if liability rests entirely with perpetrators
  • Digital vs. physical cards: Whether the bill adequately addresses both traditional physical gift cards and digital/electronic variants with different vulnerability profiles

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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