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FrontRow · Jul 18, 2026

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Digital forms of theft such as tap-to-pay schemes and app fraud are shaping the next wave of organized retail crime and fueling solo thieves to Chinese gangs, which earn as much as $1 billion annually from the crime, police say. Instead of clearing out shelves inside big box stores, fraudsters are using stolen credit cards and tap-to-pay to purchase gift cards that can be resold at a discount or used to buy high value goods for resale in China. CNBC examined nearly a dozen cases across the country involving a wide array of retailers, including Lowe’s and TJX Companies.

Digital forms of theft such as tap-to-pay schemes and app fraud are shaping the next wave of organized retail crime and fueling solo thieves to Chinese gangs, which earn as much as $1 billion annually from the crime, police say. Instead of clearing out shelves inside big box stores, fraudsters are using stolen credit cards and tap-to-pay to purchase gift cards that can be resold at a discount or used to buy high value goods for resale in China. CNBC examined nearly a dozen cases across the country involving a wide array of retailers, including Lowe’s and TJX Companies.

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