Reston Police District—Detectives from our Financial Crimes Unit have arrested two men linked to fraudulently altering over $2,000 in gift cards.
On December 11, around 5:21 p.m., officers were in the 12100 block of Sunset Hill Road in Reston as part of the Christmas Anti-Theft Team (CATT). A loss prevention officer alerted officers to a suspect who had committed fraud the day before at a different location. Officers responded and observed Haijun Qin, 36, of California, place numerous altered Visa gift cards on various sale racks in the store before attempting to leave the store.
Officers took Qin into custody and located over 22 altered gift cards in his possession. Officers continued to investigate and learned that Qin was working with an accomplice. Officers later located HaoranYue, 35, of California in a nearby vehicle. The vehicle revealed evidence consistent with fraudulent activity.
Qin was charged with 22 counts of Possession of a Credit Card Forgery Device, 22 counts of Credit Card Forgery, and Burglarious Tools. Yue was charged with three counts of Credit Card Forgery, Possession of a Credit Card Forgery Device, and Burglarious Tools. Both are being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center with no bond.
Tips to Avoid Gift Card Scams
- Inspect the Packaging Carefully: Look for signs of tampering, such as mismatched seals, uneven edges, or any stickers or labels that seem out of place.
- Check Gift Card Balances Quickly: After purchasing, check the balance on the gift card to ensure the funds were loaded correctly. Many retailers offer online balance-checking tools.
- Monitor the Activation Process: When purchasing a gift card check that the barcode being scanned matches the card you’re buying.
Detectives are asking anyone who may have information about these incidents to call Crime Solvers. Tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web –Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App and follow the steps to “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.
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