How a Massive Chinese Crime Ring Hacked Staples to Steal Millions
A sophisticated organized crime gang hacked into Staples, issued millions of dollars worth of gift cards, and went on a spending spree across the U.S.
A Chinese organized crime ring orchestrated a massive hacking scheme, targeting Staples and other U.S. retailers to steal millions of dollars worth of gift cards. The theft, never previously reported, involved gaining unauthorized access to Staples' internal customer support system, Nexus, and exploiting it to create fraudulent gift cards.
The gang then used these stolen cards to purchase electronics and other products at various retailers, including Target, Sephora, and Lowe's. In one incident, four men made repeated visits to a Target store in New Hampshire, purchasing high-value electronics using stolen gift cards from the Staples hack. The scale of the operation is staggering, with the gang redeeming approximately $425,000 worth of gift cards across multiple retailers and locations.
The criminal enterprise was so extensive that it involved the acquisition of over $100 million in stolen gift cards through hacks of various U.S. businesses.
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