Source: OT-Team(G)，宣州区检察院
Prosecutors in Anhui Province have recently announced a fraud case involving a foreign national. The suspect, identified by the pseudonym Daniel, is facing criminal charges under Chinese law for his alleged participation in a scam.
Lured by a Cross-Border Job Ad, Caught on First Day in China
In mid-December 2024, Daniel came across a Facebook advertisement promising "part-time work in China with daily pay over 1,000 yuan." Intrigued, he contacted the poster, who claimed to work for a loan company and offered a seemingly simple task: visiting designated locations to "assist with cash withdrawals" in exchange for high pay.
Despite noticing vague instructions and suspecting the poster was withholding key information, Daniel decided to treat the opportunity as a way to "travel while earning." On December 29, he paid for a flight from Singapore to Hangzhou and then took a high-speed train to Anhui, arranged by the recruiter.
On December 30, following instructions from his contact, Daniel went to the entrance of a supermarket in an unspecified city. Disguised as a police officer, he told a victim that their relative had been detained by authorities and required a ransom. He successfully collected 30,000 yuan in cash and left it at a designated drop-off point. The victim, realizing they had been scammed, promptly reported the incident. Authorities opened a case the same day and arrested Daniel at 2 p.m. in a nearby town as he was preparing for a second fraudulent operation.
No Profit, Still Criminal: Prosecutors Explain Joint Liability
Investigators found that Daniel had agreed to a daily wage of 1,000 yuan, but had not yet received any payment. Nevertheless, prosecutors concluded that Daniel knowingly participated in a scam, impersonated law enforcement, and assisted in deceiving victims. He was involved in one completed fraud totaling 30,000 yuan and another attempted fraud of the same amount.
Prosecutors determined that Daniel's actions violated Article 266 (Fraud) and Article 25, Paragraph 1 (Joint Crime) of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China. The case was supported by clear facts and solid evidence, warranting criminal prosecution.
It is important to note that although Daniel is a foreign national, Chinese criminal law applies to all crimes committed within the territory of China, under the principle of territorial jurisdiction. The fact that Daniel had not yet received any payment does not exempt him from legal liability. Participation in a joint crime—even without profit—can still result in prosecution.
A Warning to Would-Be "Job Tourists"
Daniel's story took an unexpected turn: what was meant to be a paid trip around China ended with his arrest just one day after arrival. Prosecutors warn that the law will not show leniency simply because no money was received, nor will foreign nationals receive special treatment.
The case has now been transferred to the local people's court for trial.
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