Source: OT-Team(G)
A foreign businessman flew to Hangzhou to "turn himself in," only to discover he had fallen victim to an elaborate telecom fraud scheme.
In a dramatic turn of events, a foreign businessman identified only as Mr. W rushed to the Command Center of the Hangzhou Public Security Bureau, urgently claiming he needed to "turn himself in" to Officer Han Zheng of the bureau's Criminal Investigation Division. However, after a thorough review of his experience by officers at the Hangzhou Anti-Fraud Center, Mr. W could only shake his head with a wry smile: "It was like a dream... a scam within a scam."
False Accusation Sparks Panic
Mr. W, who is engaged in foreign trade and frequently travels to major Chinese cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, received a call in late March from someone claiming to be a "China Mobile customer manager." The caller alleged that Mr. W had registered a SIM card at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport and had been reported for spreading false investment information.
Confused, Mr. W responded that he had never even been to Hangzhou. The caller then advised him to report the issue to the local police. When Mr. W replied that he was tied up with business commitments and unable to travel to Hangzhou, his call was swiftly "transferred" to someone claiming to be with the Hangzhou police.
Within seconds, Mr. W was speaking to a person identifying as an officer from the "Economic Investigation Division of Hangzhou Public Security Bureau." They claimed Mr. W needed to provide proof that the phone number was not used by him personally and suggested conducting an online video investigation if he couldn't appear in person.
Trusting the Impersonators
Following their instructions, Mr. W downloaded Zoom and began cooperating in a series of virtual "interrogations." During the sessions, the impersonators alleged that his passport and bank account in Hangzhou were both linked to ongoing criminal investigations. They demanded constant video monitoring of Mr. W and threatened to suspend his bank accounts.
"At first, I was skeptical," Mr. W said. "But when all three of my bank cards were really frozen, I started believing them."
The scammers, claiming to be part of the anti-corruption bureau, told Mr. W that his bank records needed to be verified. They arranged to collect 150,000 (in foreign currency) in cash, allegedly for audit purposes, after showing official-looking IDs and meeting him at a location with surveillance cameras. Over the next month, the fraudsters took nearly 300,000 in three installments via both cash and wire transfers.
Reality Sets In
The final demand came when Mr. W was instructed to report in person to the Criminal Investigation Division in Hangzhou. Taking the request seriously, he flew from his home country to China and appeared at the Hangzhou Public Security Bureau—where he finally learned the truth.
Police at the Hangzhou Anti-Fraud Center immediately recognized the pattern and informed Mr. W that he had been the victim of a sophisticated telecom fraud scheme. While this type of scam is unfortunately not uncommon, this case marked the first time a foreign national had traveled to China believing they were under criminal investigation.
Police Reminder to the Public
The Hangzhou Anti-Fraud Center has issued a firm warning to the public: Chinese public security, prosecutorial, and judicial authorities will never contact individuals through social apps like WeChat, QQ, or video conferencing platforms to issue arrest warrants or demand financial statements.
There is no such legal document as a "Financial Capability Verification Letter," and authorities will never instruct individuals to withdraw or transfer funds as part of an investigation.
"If anyone claiming to be law enforcement contacts you to verify your finances or demands a cash withdrawal or wire transfer—it's a scam," officials said. "Verify any such contact with your local police immediately. If you suspect fraud, report it at once."
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