Former Apple Employees Used Charity Scam to Steal Over $150,000

Six former Apple employees have been charged with using a charity scheme to defraud Apple out of thousands of dollars, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney.

Apple Logo Cash Feature Blue
Apple has a program that will match or double employee donations made to charities, and the employees came up with a plan to make fake donations and collect money from Apple.

Ringleader Siu Kei Kwan had five other Apple employees make donations to the American Chinese International Cultural Exchange (ACICE) or Hop4Kids, both of which he was associated with. After Apple matched the donations, the original money was returned to the employees, and the matched money was kept. The employees also wrote off their fake charitable donations on their tax returns, earning them additional money.

Between July 1, 2018 and April 6, 2021, the employees collected approximately $152,000 from Apple's program and overreported $100,000 in charitable contributions as tax deductions. Apple detected the fraud and brought it to the attention of the district attorney's office. From Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen:

This case underscores our unwavering commitment to rigorously prosecuting individuals who defraud the tech community and misuse vital charitable programs and state resources. We commend Apple for coming forward and actively collaborating with our Office to uncover this elaborate fraud. We encourage others in the tech community to do the same. It's the holidays. Give - legally - to help the needy, not to help yourself.

The six former Apple employees who participated in the scheme have been charged with grand theft, conspiracy to commit felony grand theft, perjury, and tax fraud. Due to the amount of money involved, they face charges under California's aggravated white-collar crime enhancement.

If convicted the six are facing jail time, fines, and fees, including restitution for the money they collected.

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Top Rated Comments

szw-mapple fan Avatar
20 weeks ago
So they ruined their life and lost their six-figure salary jobs for about $25k each.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jmpage2 Avatar
20 weeks ago

probably were retail employees barely being paid livable wages, still not right but I get it.
Siu Kei Kwan the ringleader was a certified public accountant and his position at Apple was Senior Director of Industrial Design, these were not "poor impoverished" retail employees.

He's a Chinese national and Chinese nationals are not brought into the United States on work visas to work retail jobs.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Username-already-in-use Avatar
20 weeks ago
I can't fathom why people who are working in well-remunerated professions decide that the money still isn't enough for them, they want more. So they have to do something messed-up like this.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nickplee Avatar
20 weeks ago
The human fund!

Attachment Image
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
victorvictoria Avatar
20 weeks ago

I can't fathom why people who are working in well-remunerated professions decide that the money still isn't enough for them, they want more. So they have to do something messed-up like this.
When a reporter asked John D. Rockefeller how much money was enough, his reply was,"Just a little bit more." You'll find that to be the prevailing opinion among today's tech and real estate oligarchs.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vertsix Avatar
20 weeks ago

The six former Apple employees who participated in the scheme have been charged with grand theft, conspiracy to commit felony grand theft, perjury, and tax fraud. Due to the amount of money involved, they face charges under California's aggravated white-collar crime enhancement.
They got what they deserved.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)