LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – Two men have been arrested after a large-scale gift card fraud scheme that targeted Meijer stores in the Detroit area was uncovered. According to the Michigan Attorney General, the individuals, identified as 46-year-old Guanji Zhang from Irvine, California, and 35-year-old Huachao Sun from Los Angeles, have been charged with multiple crimes.
Zhang and Sun are facing one count of conducting a criminal enterprise and two counts of possession of fraudulent or altered transaction devices. They allegedly exploited a loophole in the Meijer store system by stealing empty, unsold gift cards. After recording the card numbers, they would use adhesive to conceal the markings, making them appear unaltered.
Once they returned these tampered gift cards to the store, the duo utilized computer programs to track when the cards were activated. They would then transfer the stolen balances to their own accounts, pocketing the funds.
Authorities arrested both men at a hotel in Dearborn last Wednesday. They were arraigned in the 51st District Court in Waterford last Friday and are scheduled for a probable cause conference on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
