Makes offenses against gift card holders subject to the penalties for larceny.

Rhode Island Gift Card Fraud Bill

This bill would treat crimes involving gift cards the same way Rhode Island law currently treats theft (called "larceny"). In other words, if someone commits fraud or another offense against a gift card holder — such as stealing the value on a gift card or scamming someone through a gift card scheme — they could face the same legal penalties as someone convicted of stealing money or property directly.

The bill affects anyone who purchases, uses, or receives gift cards, as well as businesses that sell them. For everyday consumers, the goal is to provide stronger legal protection if they become victims of gift card-related fraud — a growing problem where scammers often pressure people into paying for things using gift cards. By tying the penalties to larceny laws, the severity of the punishment would likely depend on the dollar amount involved, meaning larger gift card scams could result in more serious criminal charges.

Currently, this bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island House and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which has recommended it be held for further study. This means lawmakers want more time to review it before deciding whether to move it forward. No final vote has been taken yet.