Gift cards remain one of the most popular holiday gifts, but scammers are finding new ways to steal your money before you even buy them.

Federal investigators say gift card fraud has grown into a billion-dollar international industry connected to Chinese criminal networks. Retailers and law enforcement, including Pennsylvania's Attorney General , are stepping up security.

Lisa LaBruno heads up the Gift Card Fraud Prevention Alliance , which is a partnership of 20 major retailers, U.S. Homeland Security and local law enforcement. She said criminals steal the unactivated cards, copy the numbers and PIN, and put them back on the rack for unsuspecting shoppers.

"Once the consumer purchases and loads money onto the gift card, the criminals use automated systems to drain the money from t

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