
The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office is charging a New York City man with financial card fraud and identity theft following an investigation into unauthorized purchases made with a victim’s card.
Zhiyuan Zhao, 41, of Flushing, N.Y. is charged with one count of felony financial card fraud, one count of felony identity theft and four counts of misdemeanor financial card fraud. The sheriff’s office says it began its investigation after receiving a report of unauthorized card usage. Investigators then determined the card had been used in tap-to-pay transactions at multiple stores in Wake County. The sheriff’s office says it used transaction records and camera footage from those locations to help identify Zhao as a suspect.
Warrants have been issued for Zhao’s arrest, but at the time of publication he is not in custody. A court date has not yet been set.
Featured image via Chapel Hill Media Group/Henry Taylor
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