Federal authorities have cracked down on a large, well-coordinated gang of credit card counterfeiters based in New York. Allegedly, the group orchestrated the movement of mules across the country to acquire $2 million worth of gift cards and other goods for resale, including cosmetics valued at $30,000.
The ring, led by Ze Xi Qiu, also known as "Superman," operated alongside Doufu Ke, Hong Gang Yang, and Huaming Dong, all hailing from Queens, New York. From July until this week, they reportedly procured stolen magstripe data from online carder forums, using it to produce over 1,000 counterfeit credit cards. These fake cards were distributed to teams of "drivers" tasked with taking shopping crews to malls in various states, including New York, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
This week, the Secret Service and the DEA apprehended 19 alleged members of the operation in Queens and one in Los Angeles, where the stolen goods were being sold. Prosecutors mentioned that one defendant was already in jail, and two remain at large.
This bust serves as a reminder that, even in an era of bitcoin thefts and money mules, traditional methods are not obsolete. Here's a video illustrating how card counterfeiters ply their trade.
The ring, led by Ze Xi Qiu, also known as "Superman," operated alongside Doufu Ke, Hong Gang Yang, and Huaming Dong, all hailing from Queens, New York. From July until this week, they reportedly procured stolen magstripe data from online carder forums, using it to produce over 1,000 counterfeit credit cards. These fake cards were distributed to teams of "drivers" tasked with taking shopping crews to malls in various states, including New York, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
This week, the Secret Service and the DEA apprehended 19 alleged members of the operation in Queens and one in Los Angeles, where the stolen goods were being sold. Prosecutors mentioned that one defendant was already in jail, and two remain at large.
This bust serves as a reminder that, even in an era of bitcoin thefts and money mules, traditional methods are not obsolete. Here's a video illustrating how card counterfeiters ply their trade.
