Apple gift card scam: thieves stole millions using stolen iPhones

A massive scheme involving Apple gift cards has cost consumers hundreds of millions of dollars. According to the investigation, law enforcement discovered around 4,000 iPhones worth between $8 million and $9 million during a single raid. The fraud started with the theft of Apple gift cards from retail stores. Criminals carefully opened the packaging, recorded the PIN and other key details, then resealed the cards to appear untouched. The cards were returned to store shelves, where unsuspecting customers bought them as ordinary gifts or payment methods.

When a buyer activated such a card, the fraudsters received an alert and quickly drained the balance. The stolen funds were used to purchase Apple devices, including iPhones and MacBooks. The victim was left with a useless card, while the criminal group converted the stolen balance into expensive devices that could be resold.

Some of the devices were sent to gray markets in China, Dubai, and South American countries. One episode involved roughly 4,000 iPhones, but the full scale of the operation was much larger. Investigators believe the total losses could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars, making this one of the biggest scams involving Apple gift cards.

The investigation was carried out by New Hampshire police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Apple reportedly assisted investigators, although the company has not publicly commented on the situation. Against this backdrop, experts again remind consumers that it's safer to buy gift cards directly from Apple stores or through official channels, rather than from random retail outlets.

This scam also highlights a broader issue with gift cards as a tool for fraud. They are frequently used in schemes where victims receive calls from people posing as government agencies, companies, or support services and demand urgent payment of a “fine” or “debt” via gift cards, threatening arrest or account suspension. In the Apple case, the criminals went a step further: they targeted the retail sales chain itself, rather than exploiting consumer gullibility.