DOJ says 11 co-conspirators were sentenced for conspiring to commit wire fraud through the “Artemis Refund Group.” The scheme allegedly caused millions of dollars in losses to multiple major online retailers by submitting fraudulently obtained refund and return orders.

U.S. prosecutors announced sentencing outcomes for participants in a refund-fraud conspiracy described as operating through the “Artemis Refund Group.” DOJ reports that 11 co-conspirators were sentenced for wire-fraud-related offenses tied to alleged fraudulent refund and return activity targeting online retailers. Prosecutors say the group used fraudulently obtained refund/return orders to extract money and generate financial losses for major e-commerce brands. According to DOJ, the losses totaled in the millions of dollars across multiple retailers, reflecting a coordinated scheme rather than isolated misconduct. The criminal conduct allegedly relied on the ability to submit or trigger refund processes using information or orders obtained through fraud, and then monetize those refunds before the scheme could be detected. DOJ’s filing characterizes the operation as organized conspiracy conduct, with multiple participants playing roles in executing and sustaining the fraud. The agency’s update underscores how refund fraud can scale quickly because e-commerce platforms process returns and refunds through automated or semi-automated systems. By bringing wire-fraud charges, prosecutors signaled that the scheme involved communications in interstate commerce and used electronic methods to further the fraudulent scheme. The case serves as another example of how “refund” and “return” channels can be exploited for systematic theft.