A New York man, 23-year-old Zhipeng Lin of Elmhurst, was arrested in connection with a $496,000 scam involving a Greenwich woman, according to a police warrant. Lin is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny and criminal attempt at first-degree larceny.
Details of the Scam
The victim, a 74-year-old Greenwich resident, reported the crime on December 28, 2024. She explained that she had been contacted in November 2024 by someone posing as a McAfee Security employee. The scammer claimed she owed a large sum of money, which led to a series of conversations over the following month. The victim, trusting the fraudster, ended up selling securities, stocks, and investments to purchase $459,427 worth of gold.
The victim was instructed to give the gold to a supposed courier, who was part of the scam. In addition to the gold, the woman made several payments before realizing she had been defrauded. It wasn’t until her son became aware of the scam that the victim reached out to authorities.
Police Sting Operation
Greenwich police set up a sting operation on January 2, 2025, arranging for a $30,000 payoff, hoping to catch the scammers in action. Lin was identified as the courier, though he did not complete the cash handoff. Police detained him and later found that his text conversations contradicted his claims that he was unaware of the scam.
Lin cooperated with authorities and provided access to his phone, which further linked him to the fraudulent activity.
Court Appearance and Bail
Lin was arraigned at Stamford’s state Superior Court and was held on a $250,000 bail. His case was transferred to the Part A docket, where more serious cases are heard. Lin is scheduled to appear in court again on March 18, 2025.
His attorney, Maya Sparks, argued that Lin was not the mastermind behind the scheme but did not deny his involvement in the scam.
Conclusion
Lin’s arrest highlights the persistent threat of fraud schemes targeting vulnerable individuals. Greenwich police continue to investigate the broader network behind this scam.
