A New York City man faces dozens of charges from Greenwich Police after an incident in the area of Greenwich Avenue. While conducting plainclothes surveillance targeting organized retail theft, Organized Retail Crime Unit officers were alerted by a merchant to a suspicious transaction.
On Oct 17, the accused, Qiyou Chen, 51, conspired with another individual conduct a purchase using a digital wallet at a business with an unauthorized payment card that was declined.
Mr. Chen remained on a phone call in an Asian language throughout the transactions. Based on training and experience, officers recognized this pattern as consistent with tactics used by Organized Criminal Groups involved in identity theft and credit card fraud. Police said these groups are known to utilize mirrored digital wallets through apps like “Z-NFC” to make unauthorized purchases with stolen card information.
Mr. Chen entered a nearby getaway vehicle and left the scene before officers could identity and detain him. Officers canvassed the area and surrounding storefronts known to be known to be victim to this crime. They eventually located him in Stamford where they observed him continuing the fraudulent crime.
Investigators conducted an investigative detention. Based on the totality of the circumstances and Mr. Chen’s behavior, method of payment, presence of a second phone, and known Organized Criminal Group methods, the observation of malicious software being used to mimic an ID Theft victim’s payment card, investigators on scene established probable cause to believe Chen was engaged in payment card fraud and placed under arrest.
Chen faces dozens of charges, including numerous class D felonies.
Charges included Larceny 5, Larceny 6, Illegal Possession of Personal ID Info Device, Payment Card Theft, >$500 on Revoked Payment Card, Receipt from Illegal Use Credit Card, Identity Theft 3, Criminal Impersonation.
Bond was set at $250,000.
He was charged and assigned a date in Stamford Superior Court on October 19. According to the Judicial Branch website, Chen was released on bond and his next court appearance is on Oct 30, 2026.