Two Chinese Nationals Charged in Major Gift Card Scam in Metro Detroit

Two Chinese nationals, Guangji Zhang and Huachao Sun, have been charged in connection with a large-scale gift card fraud scheme targeting Meijer stores in metro Detroit. The men allegedly stole empty gift cards, recorded their unique redemption numbers, and then returned them to retail displays after tampering with them to conceal the evidence. Once activated by unsuspecting customers, the fraudsters would transfer the card balances to their own digital accounts, leaving the cards depleted when redeemed. Their operation came to light following a suspicious package containing over 1,500 gift cards that was flagged by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Michigan Attorney General's office has warned consumers to inspect gift cards carefully to avoid falling victim to similar scams. If convicted, both men face significant prison time for their crimes.