Two Chinese men in New York City were arrested by local authorities in North Carolina after sending back counterfeit goods to fraudulently obtain money following their purchase of Apple AirPods.
According to a report by Fighting Crimes News on December 18th, Linshan Chen and Yat Ching Chau were arrested by Garner police in North Carolina for their involvement in a scheme involving returning counterfeit goods for profit.
The report highlighted that the two men allegedly obtained genuine AirPod Pros on the East Coast, sent back counterfeit products to the store to deceive them and then resold the authentic items.
It was reported that the suspects used the same method to deceive retailers such as Walmart and Target in Garner.
After a pursuit by Garner police, Linshan Chen and Yat Ching Chau were eventually apprehended. Both men are facing charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, trademark infringement, and fraud. Linshan Chen is facing additional charges related to evading arrest.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of being cautious when making purchases and dealing with potentially fraudulent activities, especially in online transactions where counterfeit goods are prevalent. Authorities continue to urge the public to report any suspicious behavior to help combat such fraudulent schemes and protect consumers from falling victim to such scams.
The case underscores the collaborative efforts between law enforcement and retailers to combat fraudulent activities and uphold the integrity of business transactions. It also highlights the vigilance required in identifying and preventing fraudulent schemes to maintain consumer trust and safeguard the marketplace from deception.