Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire, is actively working to identify victims of a complex gift card fraud scheme. This initiative aims to facilitate victim restitution.
The investigation, which began in December 2023, involves multiple agencies including HSI, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Concord Police Department (CPD). The scheme is reportedly orchestrated by criminal organizations based in China and has resulted in significant consumer losses due to its operations within New Hampshire's tax-free retail environment.
Criminals involved in this network have been purchasing high-end electronics using stolen gift cards obtained through various fraudulent methods such as elder-fraud, gift card tampering, and network intrusions. These electronics are then repackaged and sold internationally. For more details on this type of fraud, visit: https://www.ice.gov/about-ice/hsi/news/hsi-insider/tackling-gift-card-fraud.
Individuals who suspect they may be victims of unauthorized use or theft of gift card funds between October 1, 2023, and January 11, 2024—particularly from Apple, Walmart, Target, and BestBuy—are encouraged to report their cases. Victims should send their gift card numbers along with receipts or proof of purchase to HSINewEnglandVictimAssistance@ice.dhs.gov. Contact information should also be included for further communication if a match is found with known stolen cards from this conspiracy. The deadline for filing claims is June 30, 2025.
