Tampered Apple gift cards surface in major Australian supermarkets amid fraud concerns

A wave of complaints about Apple gift cards with missing or scratched redemption codes has emerged from customers of Coles and Woolworths, with incidents reported in Melbourne, regional Queensland and Victoria. Affected cards, worth up to $2,000 in total, could not be redeemed online, leaving shoppers anxious and seeking refunds. One outlet’s review of receipts, photos and email exchanges shows the problem dates back to 2024 and has persisted despite Apple’s early-2025 packaging redesign that flags opened packs.

Specialists describe the fraud as “card draining,” where perpetrators open, alter and reseal cards before they are sold, then cash out the stolen balances. The scheme appears to operate across multiple countries, with similar activity noted in New Zealand, Singapore and parts of Southeast Asia. Retailers say they are enhancing in-store controls, such as anti-tamper hangers and monitoring, while issuers like InComm and Blackhawk stress ongoing improvements to protect consumers.