Greenwich Police arrested two men from Brooklyn, NY after an incident on August 8 in the area of Greenwich Avenue. While conducting plainclothes surveillance targeting organized retail theft, the Organized Retail Crime Activity (ORCA) officers were alerted by a merchant to a suspicious transaction.
Police say Haixiang Wang, 18, and Andrew Liu, 19, both of Brooklyn, NY conspired to conduct multiple purchases using a digital wallet at three separate businesses, and that four different cards were accepted and 10 declined.
Police said Mr. Liu remained on a phone call in an Asian language throughout the transactions and based on training and experience, officers recognized this pattern to be 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 and co-conspirator entered a nearby getaway vehicle, investigators conducted an investigative detention. On scene interviews revealed conflicting and vague explanations and an admission that the accused did not know whose credit/debit cards they were using. Mr. Wang and Mr. Liu gave inconsistent and evasive statements regarding their travel and purpose in the area.
Based on the totality of the circumstances – including the arrestees’ behavior, method of payment, geographic origin, use of multiple cards, presence of a second phone, and known Chinese Organized Criminal Groups methods – investigators established Probable Cause to believe the men were both engaged in credit card fraud and placed under arrest.
Mr. Wang was charged with:
Conspiracy to Commit/Possession of Scanning Device with Intent to Use
Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 6 (14 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Possession of Personal Id Info Device
Conspiracy to Commit Payment Card Theft (14 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit <$500 on Revoked Payment Card (14 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Receipt from Illegal Use Credit Card (14 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft 3 (14 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Impersonation (14 counts)
His bond was set at $250,000 and has a date in Stamford Superior Court on August 22, 2025.
Mr. Liu was charged with :
Possession of Scanning Device with Intent to Use
Conspiracy to Commit/Possession of Scanning Device with Intent to Use
Criminal Attempt Larceny 6 (8 counts)
Conspiracy to commit Larceny 6 (14 counts)
Larceny 6 (3 counts)
Illegal Possession Id Info Device
Conspiracy to Commit/Illegal Possession Personal Id Info Device
Payment Card Theft (11 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit Payment Card Theft (14 counts)
<$500 on Revoked Payment Card (11 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit <$500 on Revoked Payment Card (14 counts)
Criminal Attempt Receipt from Illegal Use Credit Card (87 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit/Receipt from Illegal Use Credit Card 914 counts)
Receipt from Illegal Use Credit Card (3 counts)
Identity Theft 3 (11 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit / Identity Theft 3 (14 counts)
Criminal Impersonation (11 counts)
Conspiracy to Commit / Criminal Impersonation (14 counts)
His bond was also set at $250,000 and he shares the date in Stamford Superior Court on August 22, 2025.
Back in June, Greenwich Police made similar arrests after they recognized men using tactics consistent with those used by Chinese Organized Criminal Groups involved in identity theft and credit card fraud.
Report suspicious activity any time to (203) 622-8004 (24 hours).