Chinese Organized Crime’s Latest U.S. Target: Gift Cards

Chinese crime rings already dominate the illegal marijuana trade in the U.S. and launder cocaine and heroin profits. Now a federal task force is investigating their role in a burgeoning form of gift card fraud.
Read our full investigation: propub.li/3VTFnco
-
ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism with moral force.
+ Sign up for our weekly newsletter: propub.li/2oyN8DY
+ Follow us on X/Twitter: / propublica
+ Follow us on Instagram: / propublica
+ Follow us on TikTok: / propublica
+ Follow us on Facebook: / propublica
+ Follow us on Threads: www.threads.net/@propublica
+ Follow us on Mastodon: newsie.social/@ProPublica
+ Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/propublica.b...
+ Follow us on Post News: post.news/@/propublica

[@Chickennugultimate]

Thank you for this.

[@blip_bloop]

Gift cards should be legislated out of existence

[@cymeriandesigns]

I've been seeing stories about this for months. I'd never buy gift cards from a retailer now, especially when I badly need them to pay the police so they don't come arrest me because I didn't show up for jury duty.

[@kimberleebrackley2793]

Thank you

[@philbarone4603]

This happened to my wife and the retailer and the company who issued it wouldn’t do a thing so she had to contest it on the credit 0:40 card she paid with.

[@robertrinehuls9099]

It's only April and so far in 2024 over 24,000 Chinese have been intercepted crossing the border illegally. What could they be up to?

[@jeffreymarra231]

I think we would have to see the numbers of all countries to gain some context of the broader situation, instead of working it in such a way to direct one particular narrative. China is a Communist country. American is free, a democracy. Maybe we could at least start there? Sure, I'm sure there are ill-willed people coming in. But is that the majority?

[@PAMELAPORTER-ci7mr]

Instead of gift cards, cash or personal checks

[@AK-qo6tx]

just ban gift cards....

[@mla8680]

💜

[@cheryl9715]

Stop buying the cards and no more money lostvon consumers if everyone stopped buying them

[@coachelly86]

stop with the vocal fry please god