Target Sells Scam Apple iTunes Gift Cards, Alleges Class Action Lawsuit

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Customers are purchasing Apple iTunes gift cards that have been tampered with at Target stores across the nation, according to a class action lawsuit filed in Minnesota federal court Wednesday.  

More than a dozen consumers filed the nationwide class action as lead plaintiffs. They claim that the retailer knowingly sells Apple iTunes gift cards that can be used by scammers to access money customers put on the cards.

Security tape is removed by scammers, says the complaint, allowing them to record each card’s activation code. Once the Target customer who purchased the gift card loads it with funds, the scammer can then drain the account, claim the plaintiffs.  

Each of the plaintiffs say that they purchased an Apple iTunes gift card from Target that had been tampered with by scammers. They say they lost the money they put on the card to the thieves. In addition, some say that they gave the cards to friends and family members and suffered embarrassment and distress when the recipient discovered there were no funds on the card.  

“Consumers have lost millions of dollars that they loaded onto the Gift Cards because Target failed to take adequate and reasonable measures to ensure that scammers did not tamper with the Gift Cards and failed to disclose to its customers the material fact that it was possible that the Gift Cards had been tampered with,” claims the lawsuit.  

Target’s failure to implement security measures to stop scammers from tampering with the Apple iTunes gift cards, as well as continuing to sell them to customers, unjustly enriches the popular big box chain, claims the class action lawsuit. The plaintiffs accuse Target of violating various state consumer protection laws, breach of warranty, and negligence.   

“The problem with the Gift Cards is rampant and widespread and Target is well-aware of the problem, yet Target continues to sell insecure Gift Cards,” claims the complaint.  

The plaintiffs are seeking to represent Target customers nationwide who purchased Apple iTunes gift cards that were tampered with by scammers. The class action lawsuit is asking for damages on behalf of those Class Members, along with penalties, fines, and attorney fees.  

Have you purchased an Apple iTunes gift card from Target? Did scammers get the money you put on the card? We want to hear from you! Tell us about your experience in the comment section below.  

The lead plaintiffs are represented by David M. Cialkowski and Ian McFarland of Zimmerman Reed LLP, E. Powell Miller, Sharon S. Almonrode, and Dennis A. Lienhardt of The Miller Law Firm, PC, Donald Brown, and Craig R. Heidemann of Douglas, Haun & Heidmann PC, and Bilal A. Essayli, and D. Andrew Brown of Essayli & Brown LLP.  

The Target Apple iTunes Gift Card Class Action Lawsuit is Chen, et al. v. Target Corporation, Case No. 0:21-cv-01247 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.  

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