On May 14, New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) reported that police in New Hampshire, in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations, dismantled a China-linked Apple gift card fraud ring responsible for illicit activities totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. The operation involved sophisticated tactics: stolen physical gift cards were taken from retail stores, their codes and PINs recorded, then repackaged and put back on sale. Once consumers activated and recharged these cards, the criminals received instant notifications and promptly drained the balances. The stolen funds were used to purchase large quantities of iPhones and MacBooks, which were subsequently sold on grey markets in China, Dubai, and South America. Authorities have identified at least 13 warehouses in southern New Hampshire used for receiving, sorting, and exporting these devices; nearly 20 individuals have been charged with crimes ranging from wire fraud and gift card theft to receiving stolen goods.
A single raid yielded roughly 4,000 iPhones valued at approximately $8–9 million USD (equivalent to ¥54.5–61.4 million RMB). This case also involves a homicide: in May 2025, a 41-year-old Chinese national was killed during an armed robbery at a warehouse in Derry; police believe this murder is directly linked to the fraud network. Apple reportedly cooperated with investigators but has made no public statements. Previously, the U.S. Attorney’s Office issued a nationwide call for victims to submit testimonies to determine eligibility for restitution.
https://9to5mac.com/2026/05/18/apple-gift-card-scam-cost-buyers-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars/