Homeland Security Investigations, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire, is working to identify victims of a gift card fraud scheme in New Hampshire. This effort aims to facilitate victim restitution.
In December 2023, several agencies including Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Concord Police Department began investigating this fraud. The scheme is linked to criminal organizations in China and has resulted in significant consumer losses by exploiting New Hampshire's tax-free retail environment.
The identified co-conspirators operate in a coordinated manner to buy high-end electronics using stolen gift cards. These cards are obtained through various fraudulent activities such as elder-fraud, gift card tampering, and network intrusions. After purchasing electronics, they are repackaged and shipped overseas for sale.
Individuals who suspect their gift card funds were stolen or used without permission between October 1, 2023, and January 11, 2024, are encouraged to report their cases. Those affected should send details including gift card numbers and proof of purchase to HSINewEnglandVictimAssistance@ice.dhs.gov along with their name and contact number. The provided information will be checked against a database of known stolen cards from this conspiracy. If a match is found, victims will be informed about the next steps for restitution. The filing period closes on June 30, 2025.