Greenwich Police arrested a Brooklyn man on Aug 15 after plainclothes officers conducting surveillance targeting organized retail theft in central Greenwich and ORCA plainclothes officers spotted suspicious activity consistent with Chinese Organized Credit Card Fraud.
According to police, the accused, Xi Xie, 25, utilized eight different credit cards via a tap-to-pay method, which bore the victim’s PII to buy gift cards at two different retail stores.
Based on training and experience, officers recognized this pattern as consistent with tactics used by Chinese Organized Criminal Groups involved in identity theft and credit card fraud.
These groups are known to utilize mirrored digital wallets through apps like “Z-NFC” to make unauthorized purchases with stolen card information.
As the accused entered a nearby getaway vehicle, investigators conducted an investigative detention. On scene interview revealed conflicting and vague explanations when compared to witness and investigators’ observations.
Based on the totality of the circumstances – including arrestee’s behavior, method of payment, geographic origin, use of multiple cards, presence of a second phone, and known COCG methods – investigators established probable cause to believe the arrestee was engaged in credit card fraud and was placed under arrest.
A search incident to arrest revealed a counterfeit driver’s license within the accused’s wallet.
He was charged with:
Possession of a Scanning Device or Reencoder
Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 6
Illegal Possession Personal Id Info Device
Illegal Take Payment Card
<$500 on Revoked Payment Card
Conspiracy to Commit/Receipt from Illegal Use Credit Card
Identity Theft 3
Criminal Impersonation
Forgery 2
Mr. Xie’s bond was set at $250,000 and he was assigned a date in Stamford Superior Court on Aug 29, 2025.