Title 14. Miscellaneous Consumer Protection Provisions — Subtitle 49. Gift Card Fraud
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Com. Law § 14-4901 (2026)
Title 14. Miscellaneous Consumer Protection Provisions
Subtitle 49. Gift Card Fraud
§ 14–4901LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)
“Closed–loop gift card” means a card, code, or device that is:
(1)
Issued to a consumer on a prepaid basis primarily for personal, family, or household purposes in a specified amount, regardless of whether that amount may be increased or reloaded in exchange for payment; and
(2)
Redeemable on presentation by a consumer at a single merchant or a group of affiliated merchants.
(c)
“Division” has the meaning stated in § 13–101 of this article.
(d)
“Merchant” has the meaning stated in § 13–101 of this article.
(e)
“Open–loop gift card” means a card, code, or device that is:
(1)
Issued to a consumer on a prepaid basis primarily for personal, family, or household purposes in a specified amount, regardless of whether that amount may be increased or reloaded in exchange for payment;
(2)
Payment card network branded; and
(3)
(i)
Redeemable on presentation at multiple unaffiliated merchants for goods or services within the payment card network; or
(ii)
Usable at an automated teller machine.
(f)
“Third–party gift card reseller” means a merchant who, without authorization from or affiliation with the business entity issuing an open– or a closed–loop gift card, is engaged in the business of:
(1)
Buying open– or closed–loop gift cards on behalf of consumers; or
(2)
Reselling open– or closed–loop gift cards to consumers.
Md. Code Ann., Com. Law § 14-4902 (2026)
Title 14. Miscellaneous Consumer Protection Provisions
Subtitle 49. Gift Card Fraud
§ 14–4902LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a merchant may not knowingly sell an open– or a closed–loop gift card to a consumer unless:
(1)
The merchant conspicuously displays a notice in substantially the same form as the model notice created under § 14–4904(1) of this subtitle:
(i)
For an in–person sale, at or near the physical location where:
(1)
The gift card is displayed for sale; or
(2)
The sale occurs; or
(ii)
For an online sale, on the webpage:
(1)
Where the gift card is offered for sale; or
(2)
That is displayed before the sale is finalized;
(2)
For an in–person sale of an open–loop gift card, the gift card is enclosed in secure packaging that:
(i)
Is sealed in a manner that is not easily opened without signs of tampering;
(ii)
Except as provided in item (iii) of this item, conceals all numeric codes specific to the activation or redemption of the gift card, including any bar code, CVV number, PIN number, or activation code;
(iii)
Displays an activation code, bar code, or other activation data only if the packing used is more secure than it otherwise would be if the data were fully concealed; and
(iv)
Includes a warning that states the following or uses language substantially similar to the following:
“Do not sell or purchase if packaging has been broken or indicates tampering”; and
(3)
For an in–person sale of a closed–loop gift card, the gift card is presented in packaging that:
(i)
(1)
Conceals or covers, in a manner that is not easily removed or replaced without signs of tampering, all numeric codes specific to the redemption of the gift card; or
(2)
If made more secure through partial concealment or covering than full concealment or covering under item 1 of this item, partially conceals or covers, in a manner that is not easily removed or replaced without signs of tampering, all numeric codes specific to redemption of the gift card; and
(ii)
Includes a warning that states the following or uses language substantially similar to the following:
“Do not sell or purchase if packaging has been broken or indicates tampering.”.
(b)
A merchant may sell an open– or a closed–loop gift card that is not enclosed in secure packaging as required under subsection (a)(2) of this section if:
(1)
The gift card is a chip–enabled, numberless card that is activated by a consumer after registering the card on the card issuer’s website; or
(2)
The gift card:
(i)
Is sold exclusively by:
(1)
A merchant for use only at the retail establishment of the merchant; or
(2)
A group of affiliated merchants for use only at the retail establishments of the affiliated merchants; and
(ii)
Is secured in a physical location within the merchant’s retail establishment that is accessible only by an employee of the merchant.
Md. Code Ann., Com. Law § 14-4903 (2026)
Title 14. Miscellaneous Consumer Protection Provisions
Subtitle 49. Gift Card Fraud
§ 14–4903LinkCopy Citation
A merchant that displays an open– or a closed–loop gift card for sale at a retail establishment shall provide training to all employees of the merchant whose duties regularly include the sale of open– or closed–loop gift cards to consumers on how to identify and respond to gift card fraud in accordance with the guidelines established under § 14–4904(2) of this subtitle.
Md. Code Ann., Com. Law § 14-4904 (2026)
Title 14. Miscellaneous Consumer Protection Provisions
Subtitle 49. Gift Card Fraud
§ 14–4904LinkCopy Citation
The Division shall:
(1)
Create a model notice regarding open– and closed–loop gift cards for use by merchants that:
(i)
Cautions a consumer about gift card scams;
(ii)
Instructs a consumer on what to do if the consumer suspects the consumer may be a victim of a gift card scam; and
(iii)
Indicates a gift card may not be used to pay debt;
(2)
Issue guidelines regarding the detection and prevention of open– and closed–loop gift card fraud that include:
(i)
Information that raises public awareness about gift card fraud;
(ii)
Information about how common gift card fraud schemes work; and
(iii)
Best practices for a merchant to prevent gift card fraud; and
(3)
Make available online and periodically update the model notice and guidelines required under this section.
Md. Code Ann., Com. Law § 14-4905 (2026)
Title 14. Miscellaneous Consumer Protection Provisions
Subtitle 49. Gift Card Fraud
§ 14–4905LinkCopy Citation
(a)
This section applies only to third–party gift card resellers.
(b)
Subject to subsection (c) of this section, when a third–party gift card reseller buys or sells an open– or a closed–loop gift card as part of a transaction occurring in the State, the third–party gift card reseller shall record and for at least 3 years maintain a copy of the following information, as applicable:
(1)
The date of the transaction;
(2)
The name of the person who conducted the transaction;
(3)
The name, age, and address of the seller of the gift card;
(4)
The seller’s and consumer’s driver’s license number or identification card number;
(5)
A description of the purchased gift card, including:
(i)
The retailer for which the gift card is intended for use; and
(ii)
The gift card number;
(6)
The specific amount issued on the gift card;
(7)
The prices paid to conduct the transaction; and
(8)
The signature of the consumer.
(c)
(1)
The information recorded and maintained under subsection (b) of this section shall chronologically be written in ink or logged into a secure database, software system, or other similar technology platform.
(2)
Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, recorded information may not be destroyed, altered, or erased.
(3)
A handwritten correction may be made to an entry of information by drawing a line of ink through the entry in a manner that retains legibility.
(4)
Information recorded under this section shall be open to inspection by any duly authorized law enforcement officer:
(i)
During the ordinary business hours of the third–party gift card reseller; or
(ii)
At any reasonable time.
(d)
A third–party gift card reseller, including an agent or employee of the third–party gift card reseller, may not:
(1)
Fail to make an entry of or falsify, destroy, or remove any information required to be recorded and maintained under this section;
(2)
Refuse to allow any duly authorized law enforcement officer to inspect a record of information or open– or closed–loop gift cards in the third–party gift card reseller’s possession during the ordinary business hours of the reseller or at any reasonable time; or
(3)
Fail to maintain a record of each open– or closed–loop gift card transaction for at least 3 years.
(e)
On the filing of an official report to a law enforcement agency by any person alleging to be a victim of theft of one or more open– or closed–loop gift cards with an aggregate value exceeding $500, the law enforcement agency may request that the issuer of the gift cards or the issuer’s agents preserve and provide to the law enforcement agency all relevant evidence reasonably foreseeable as of assistance to future criminal actions in accordance with State law.
Md. Code Ann., Com. Law § 14-4906 (2026)
Title 14. Miscellaneous Consumer Protection Provisions
Subtitle 49. Gift Card Fraud
§ 14–4906LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A violation of this subtitle is:
(1)
An unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice within the meaning of Title 13 of this article; and
(2)
Subject to the penalty and enforcement provisions contained in Title 13 of this article, except for § 13–408 of this article.
(b)
(1)
Before initiating an enforcement action for a violation of this subtitle, the Division may issue a notice of violation to the alleged violator if:
(i)
The Division determines that it is possible to cure the violation;
(ii)
No consumer was harmed as a result of the violation; and
(iii)
The alleged violator has not previously violated this subtitle.
(2)
If the Division issues a notice of violation under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Division shall provide the alleged violator not less than 10 days after the notice of violation is issued to cure the violation.
(3)
If the alleged violator fails to cure the violation within the time period specified by the Division, the Division may initiate an enforcement action for a violation of this subtitle.