Walmart in Trouble Again As Virginia Man’s 5-Year-Long $7 Million Gift Card Scam Is Uncovered
In a recent investigation by ProPublica, it was revealed that a man in Virginia orchestrated a scheme involving $7 million in fraudulently obtained Walmart gift cards. Over five years, he scammed numerous victims like Christy Browne who received a call from someone claiming to be from the FBI .
Felt like a panic call
The caller using tactics to create panic informed Browne that her Social Security number was in the hands of drug traffickers who were laundering money. The caller insisted that the FBI needed money to catch the criminals and advised Browne not to contact local law enforcement.
Feeling trapped, Browne, a retired teacher from upstate New York, followed the caller’s instructions. She purchased four $500 Walmart gift cards, photographed the serial numbers and PINs, and sent them to the supposed FBI agent. This allowed the fraudster to access $2,000 from Browne’s cards. The scheme continued as the gift card numbers were sold to Qinbin Chen, a Chinese national residing in Virginia.