U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire, is actively working to identify victims of a gift card fraud scheme. This initiative aims to facilitate victim restitution.
The investigation, which began in December 2023, involves ICE Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Concord Police Department. The fraud is linked to criminal organizations based in China that have exploited New Hampshire's tax-free retail environment. These groups are responsible for significant consumer losses amounting to millions of dollars.
In this scheme, co-conspirators in New Hampshire operate in a coordinated manner to purchase high-end electronics using stolen gift cards. These cards are obtained through various fraudulent activities such as elder-fraud, tampering with gift cards, and network intrusions. The purchased electronics are then repackaged and shipped overseas for sale.
Individuals who believe they may be victims of this fraud—specifically those whose gift card funds were stolen or used without authorization between October 1, 2023, and January 11, 2024—are encouraged to report their case. Victims should provide their gift card number(s) along with proof of purchase by contacting HSINewEnglandVictimAssistance@ice.dhs.gov. They should also include their name and contact phone number. Personal information will be handled solely by law enforcement for asset recovery purposes.
The deadline for filing claims is June 30, 2025.
