El Paso Standard

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), 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 for restitution purposes.

The investigation began in December 2023 and involves ICE Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Concord Police Department. The scheme is linked to criminal organizations in China and has resulted in millions of dollars in losses for consumers.

These organizations have chosen New Hampshire as their base due to its tax-free retail environment. Co-conspirators in the area work together to purchase high-end electronics using stolen gift cards acquired through various fraudulent methods such as elder-fraud, gift card tampering, and network intrusions. The electronics are then repackaged and sold internationally.

Potential victims who had funds stolen or used without authorization from Oct. 1, 2023, to Jan. 11, 2024, particularly from Apple, Walmart, Target, and BestBuy gift cards, are encouraged to contact HSINewEnglandVictimAssistance@ice.dhs.gov with their gift card number(s) and proof of purchase. Victims should also include their name and contact information. Personal data will be used by law enforcement solely for asset recovery purposes.

Victims' gift card numbers will be checked against a database of known stolen cards related to this scheme. If there is a match, victims will be informed about the next steps in the restitution process. This filing period remains open until June 30, 2025.