Scammed by the fake Chinese police - BBC Trending, BBC World Service

Chinese people around the world are being targeted by an elaborate scam in which criminals pretend to be Chinese police.
Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM
A British Chinese woman has told BBC Trending how she handed over life savings in the belief that she was paying bail in order to avoid extradition to China on fabricated criminal charges.
Some victims are even made to fake their own kidnappings to raise more money to give to the fake police. So why are Chinese people seemingly so vulnerable to this type of crime?
00:00 Introduction
01:14 Scammers set a trap for Helen
03:35 A suspicious confession
04:48 “Pack your bags, you’ve got 24 hours”
06:39 The victims made to fake their own kidnap
08:30 Why are Chinese people vulnerable to these scams?
10:15 The scamming industry
To watch more documentaries from our award-winning teams check out this playlist, perfect for the biggest screen in your home 👉🏽 • All BBC World Service ...
Check out more from our BBC Trending podcast here 👉🏽 • BBC Trending
----------------
This is the official BBC World Service KZbin channel.
If you like what we do, you can also find us here:
Instagram 👉🏽 / bbcworldservice
Twitter 👉🏽 / bbcworldservice
Facebook 👉🏽 / bbcworldservice
BBC World Service website 👉🏽 www.bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio
Thanks for watching and subscribing!
#BBCWorldService #WorldService #China #Scam

[@BBCWorldService]

Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM

[@Buttersausage]

As soon as some one wants to connect through you via any App is an OBVIOUS SCAM

[@BillAnt]

Yep, no ifs, ands, or buts, block immediately and even report it on the FBI's website.

[@LucaStanga-ww4pm]

I guess you shouldn't do anything unless a police officer knocks on your door and even then you wait to hear what your lawyer has to say.

[@Brendonbosy]

yeah Helen is pretty dumb

[@ernestfdd4589]

The Indians are doing this same thing in Switzerland. What is funny is that you will notice its fake from their accent 😂😂😂

[@smalik4358]

If you think only people from outside India.... these scammers are active...then you are wrong sir!! We Indians even effected badly just like you because of our corrupt political leaders, judiciary system and police !

[@newstaro3460]

Now that's ambitious!

[@luciferotto]

If people fall for scams in 2024 they must be dumb af

[@annak2756]

I'm an American living in Singapore. I get scam calls all the time from supposed Singapore immigration stating there's a problem with my visa. I just laugh and hang up. Singapore immigration authorities would never make such a call. If the issue is not serious, they'd email. If it's serious, they'd show up at my door.

[@asha8443]

Every few weeks, I get these weird calls where some person leaves a voicemail in Chinese. I ignore them lol

[@dandanvers-kc9is]

30 years later they'll say why did you ignore us lol

[@ramonpineda7514]

I'll just switch to Mastercard instead.

[@jules263]

Singapore population is mainly Chinese Han (76.2% of the citizen population) according to the Singaporean census. China in a coat

[@kayposia4997]

@@jules263 What a silly metaphor. If we are going to go by your logic, then all Chinatown in the world is 'China in a coat' just because they are predominantly Chinese residing in that area. Singaporean Chinese don't give a damn about the PRC. All Singaporean Chinese are proud to be Chinese and know that their ancestors originated from China, and that's it. Their allegiance is not with China. Singapore does not follow China's laws. They do not kowtow to xi jinping or his communist party. So to say Singapore is 'China in a coat' is really ignorant.

[@pennywang871]

I'm in New York. I encounter a similar scam. they claimed to be calling from Chinese embassy, telling me they arrested a women who had many US passports in her luggage and one of them is mine. they accuse me of selling personal information and telling me I must clarify my position and linked me to a policy officer in China who showed me his badge on FaceTime. they want me to make a report clarify my innocents etc and somehow made me "identify" my passport number.... right after I hang up the phone I realized it's a scam. Although they didn't get to scam any $ from me, but I had to report my passport lost and follow up w all the US Gov site to report this incident and recover any loose ends. it took me 4 weeks to get over this. so horrible.

[@oliver6224]

1. If you're not expecting any calls, don't pick up. If it is a legitimate call, they will either leave a voicemail or send a text. 2. Google the number and see if it has been reported as a scam number. Also, she should have gone to the Chinese Embassy

[@BillAnt]

Unfortunately clever scammers can even create fake Google search results, so it's best to go directly to the company's web site and double check the phone number, or on the back of bank card.. It's sad, but these are the times we're living in.

[@CalvinK-the_old_fogey]

@@oliver6224 there are many instances of a legitimate call. Sometimes after making a restaurant reservation via app, I will get a call to confirm. It’s not immediately but some time later and it’s from a call centre abroad. My banks too will call occasionally and sometimes they use call centres (cheaper cost) to verify my online purchases etc. Occasionally your relatives or friends traveling abroad may call you in an emergency and if they use a tourist SIM card, then the number again looks like a scam call. So advice like “don’t pick up” is not practical. In such situations I will give a “test answer or question” like a fake name or question that only genuine caller will know. Googling to see if it’s a scam number is not fool-proof because the number may not be updated yet.

[@happycook6737]

Never go to The Chinese Embassy! Once you do that you step foot on Chinese soil and put yourself at extreme risk. She is a British Citizen but China doesn't recognize conversion to other nationalities. Far better to phone the British police.

[@patrickchan2503]

I got a legit sales call from an organisation I am aware of marked as Spam....people need to differentiate between a legit call and a Spam / Scam call.

[@CuteCatsofIstanbul]

This is what I have been trying to teach people here, but legit businesses simply refuse to leave voicemails or send text messages. We are in a country of scammers as well, so we get lots of calls and messages for all kinds of fake reasons, so websites with these phone numbers are well known/well checked but when you miss a phone call from a legit person, say a delivery man or your insurance company, they never leave a message! So frustrating. It's one of the ways to stop the scammers - do what they do not do!

[@jimmyliu4614]

My friends and I started to receive scam calls days after mailing parcels to China using the same logistics company. Companies like this should also be held accountable for selling our personal information.

[@BillAnt]

The best policy is not to believe anything received by calls, text or email unless you're dealing with a known company. In this case, I would have simply deleted it and maybe even report it to the police. Unfortunately many people are gullible, and that's what criminals are exploiting it.

[@polycarp9897]

Thanks BBC for covering this story and to Helen for sharing her story. Thousands of people are scammed online every year but most are too embarrassed to talk about it. The more the information gets out, the more likely people are to be on guard and protect their hard earned money.

[@amiigose]

bbc😂😂😂😂 ??? realy??? lol

[@mikemccormick9667]

​@@amiigoseReally genius. 🙄

[@soniaprabhu3416]

I received a call yesterday from Chinese immigration! I am Indian so the call was disconnected.. It’s happening a lot. O2 needs to check how these people get hold of the phone numbers. I also get scam calls from ‘O2’ personnel but based out of India with a very heavy Indian accent trying to tell me that I need to click on some link to activate new offers. This needs to stop..

[@tonyatgoogle6076]

India is the scammer capital of the world.

[@davidjma7226]

India is the home of the biggest scams!

[@michelleh9584]

If you receive any unknown emails, texts, or calls do not reply and send them to junk/spam mail. I never answer any calls if I don't know who that person is I block them from my phone and report junk mail.

[@Naturalvillagelife2209]

Yes you do correctly because modern technology some time make us was cheated

[@BillAnt]

That's the best policy, and if in doubt, call them back by looking up their number, not what the calleID is showing.

[@pietrojenkins6901]

@@BillAnt nope, absolutely no callbacks.

[@miketran4289]

This has been going on in Australia for AGES.. I've been getting them since 2017. I'm not even Chinese and a Aussie citizen since the early 80's.

[@junglekutz5625]

“Legal” and “illegal” scams in general, have been exercised and condoned for ages. Way before a high percent of people that exist today, existed. All it takes is an experienced liar, mixing lies in what is known to be truthful.

[@rachnailedit]

I get them every week and I’m not Chinese and I’m born in Australia 🤷‍♀️ I don’t understand the Chinese so just ignore them 🤣

[@eglebarkauskaite4692]

I am lithuanian living in UK and I recently received a few scam imigration calls.Phoning from mobile english number and asking to choose English or Chinese language. I understood, that is a scam.

[@mds33483]

Scammers are becoming more and more savvy, it's not easy to escape their clutches. Awareness is the only defense most people can have.

[@CalvinK-the_old_fogey]

It is exceedingly easy to avoid being a victim. Whenever I got such calls, the scammers will ask for my name and I will give a false name. They then will issue threats to Mr Jackie Chan and I just play along. 😂

[@newstaro3460]

Good one.

[@SRSR-pc8ti]

Scam calls, messages and WhatsApp are so common. Any number that calls me which I don't know are ignored and added to my very long block list.

[@jeng1360]

This is the best video I have seen explaining this issue!

[@Moo2oob]

So let me get this straight. Chinese police use Whatsapp? Isn't that app banned in China?

[@Aliany737]

No banned for authorities only for ordinary people.

[@levelazn]

this BBC, bbc is part of the intelligence aparatas that creates consent for war. they don't report facts. they bend it

[@clive3490]

Yes, and KZbin, Tiktok, Facebook, Twitter, and any use of any VPN. But only for the common people that aren't shilling for the CCP.

[@lorenzoblum868]

@@Aliany737 authorities worldwide * / ordinary people worldwide *

[@happycook6737]

Whatsapp is NOT banned in China.

[@artbargestudio]

Sorry for you guys! So many scammers out there now! BE CAREFUL!

[@MarsTV_Cartoons]

PUT THE PHONE DOWN !! They won't even bother to call you back 🙄

[@shawneevee7490]

Applause to Helen for sharing her story. You are not a victim but an advocate!

[@Tinkerbell-Cc3361]

If someone calls you pretending to be the police or government official, hung up you can always call them or contact them yourself to verify that.

[@olivere5497]

What i like about these calls from from other continents is basicly it gives me a captive audience who i can say incredibly discriminatory things to, and im actually making the world a better place.

[@blowitoutyourcunt7675]

It doesn't matter the context! The fact that you think it's okay for you to hurl slurs in that (or any!) circumstance, reflects very poorly on you and your upbringing! You know better, so do better!

[@newstaro3460]

Huh, never thought of that one.

[@olivere5497]

@@newstaro3460 A silver lining!

[@one-zb3jy]

I always choose to cooperate with this scammers, by giving them my real name”Jingping Xi”, I don’t know why they hang up the call😢

[@newstaro3460]

Huh, I wonder why...try Winnie the Pooh next time.

[@michaelgothenburg364]

So the Chinese rip other Chinese. Yes, I can certainly believe that.

[@Doggiedogedog]

You do know that there are hundreds of millions of Chinese speaking people outside China right?

[@mikegwillis]

Its really easy just never answer the phone ... the only people who call are either selling you something or trying to scam you ...

[@MZMA85]

Those UK immigration officers spoke perfect Queen's Chinese.

[@billwhite1603]

Let's be clear since reporter failed to be at the beginning. These are Chinese criminals scamming them, not scammers from around the world.

[@olivere5497]

Its a completey chinese on chinese crime, the auto dial spam calls which the rest of us receive are basicly because the criminals know that there are so many chinese speakers now overseas if they cast the net wide they will catch something. If you get a call like that, press 1, it wont cost anything and you will get a chance to speak to a scammer who cant speak english. !.have fun!

[@miketran4289]

It's not Chinese criminals, it's the ACTUAL CCP.. they are broke and getting desperate.

[@lorenzoblum868]

Doesn't matter the passport, the ethnic origin, the religion.... A criminal is a criminal.

[@olivere5497]

@@lorenzoblum868 considering this example only effects Chinese people...

[@po2002tak]

these Taiwanese scammers arget chinese speaking victims from China Malaysia Singapore and more.

[@kirati]

This is so sophisticated. Only Chinese can pull this kind of sophistication.

[@moderateurap8962]

I guess only Chinese fall for it.

[@jacksmith-mu3ee]

Proof

[@happycook6737]

Oh my! How horrendous. The scammers are so sophicated.

[@aroundandround]

I got a call claiming to be a bank where I had recently opened an account that went as follows: She: We are calling from *** bank and need to verify your identity. Do you mind providing me your full name and address? Me: Yes, I mind. She: [pause] Would you like to provide me your full name and address please? Me: No. She: Okay, thank you and have a nice rest of your day. To this day, I don’t know if it was a scam or not, but it was very courteous. :)

[@aroundandround]

I got a call once from someone who said my passport was counterfeited and being used in LAX and that I need to first provide them my full name to verify my identity. I told them to tell me first what the name on the passport they supposedly tracked was and they wouldn’t tell me for “privacy” reasons, so I told them to fluck off and to not call again.

[@junglekutz5625]

The first thing that should get your undivided attention to ignore these kind of individuals is, them telling you what you’re doing/what you have done. No one should be able to convince you of doing things, you know you have not done. Plus, being a decent person, doesn’t mean that you have to subscribe to being good 24/7 to your own detriment. As living Life does not require that you pick a side/behave a specific way every day all day. As one’s instincts require sound thinking for balanced emotions.

[@pi5549]

Very considerate to black out the eyes of the scammer

[@davidjma7226]

Wait till you find out what the Chinese are up to in Cambodia. At least half of Cambodian GDP is generated by Chinese operators doing online scams!

[@carlajune5428]

In Indonesia, ten years ago, there is a group who sent a text or called people said that their mother/father/husband/wife in hospital/police and they asked for money. Now they used video to be more original to convince.

[@Name-uv8hi]

The threat of fake deportation should be it's own crime this is so foul

[@user-jy9hf1xs1m]

A Chinese "overseas police station" was confirmed in Akihabara, Japan, making headlines. You can find it with "Chinese overseas police akihabara". It is not a scam police station.

[@editorjohn8803]

99% of people wouldn't fall for these scams because scams target the gullible, the weak, the less educated, the less experienced, the greedy. Too many fall for scams that promise free money, and those who aren't greedy find it easier to just ignore those phone calls and emails

[@user-or4ct5ow6b]

No real authority is going to ask u to send money over. So if u did fell for the scam early on, when u reach this part where they tell u to send money, u should know its fake.

[@tabbymrp]

I got shot loads of these calls and don’t know where to report

[@newstaro3460]

I feel sorry for the woman, but she is definitely gullible. She even says there was no way for her to know it was a scam. Like, what?? Her daughter figured it out right away.

[@krislokki7355]

My rule of thumb is not answer any calls, text messages, or emails that I don’t know particularly for those which clearly indicate originally from overseas countries

[@Name-uv8hi]

It's not fair because someone is just trying to do "the right thing" by not "getting in trouble" Messing with someone's peace man

[@genghiskhoo8312]

The biggest takeaway: The bank refunded her money. £29,000.00? Is that for real? The banks I know wouldn’t return a dime citing that the transaction had been authorised by the account owner.

[@Name-uv8hi]

Jeez what a nightmare!

[@Arielle1309]

I don't understand how folks are still falling for these scams:(

[@nedlowe8344]

How are they getting the personal info of the people they are contacting and identifyig them as Chinese?

[@hannah5245]

Why would they even receive these calls, if they are not anyone in their contact list? Worse, after they click the call, they even listen to the rubbish! Dont even think of responding when you feel uncomfortable!

[@JACK_TheAllSeeingEye]

I tell them my name is Mr. J. Trudeau. Then I give the mailing address for Parliament.

[@Wavy_Gravy]

Technology is great until you're not versed in it.

[@DanielWu-gx5zp]

my friend was interviewed for 3 hours and cried for 7, and we made full of her

[@matthew78917]

Helen's one of the very lucky ones. First of all, her friend told her daughter about the suspicious request. Her daughter actually intervened. And not just that, but for her bank to also undo the transaction? She just used up the rest of her luck for this year.

[@TrailWalker03]

All seems pretty convincing. One wonders if there's not official involvement.

[@Harumph-Sez-Moi]

I'm not Chinese. I don't have WhatsApp. If I received a call from a person claiming to be law enforcement and I can see whatever proof that they are indeed who they say they are by using WhatsApp, I'd just end the call or record the call and go to the police with the recording.

[@KKKaiLok-ls6ek]

she's right,"Only stupid people got trick"😂

[@gregmcqueen4540]

Don’t be too sure about that ! You declare something you know not too much about

[@breakingtoys3542]

This is really sad …

[@haivt508]

Not sure go and talk to your solicitor and they will sort it out for you. They will charge you a little bit less than what you have been scammed with but at least you do not feel bad (or stupid).

[@johnbergman2746]

I need to get one of these calls ....so i can get them to show up to collect the money....😢

[@johnmccain3877]

Does criminal group name starts with CC ?

[@alereon]

It’s modi

[@cymeriandesigns]

"The Chinese police would never ask people to send them money." Does anyone really believe that?

[@ktng3176]

I definitely don't

[@worldtour1A]

This scammers are also Chinese people. When I was in Australia, UK and even in Canada, I received such phone call. Once I called them back they were speaking in Mandarin so do I. But I didn't believe them and ignored their trap.

[@johnwright9372]

This has been a problem in Hong Kong too. The fear and mistrust of officialdom is deeply ingrained in the culture and history.

[@paladro]

that's not how customs and immigration would contact you. in the US we get similar, usually under the guise of law enforcement and warrants, offering to pay them over the phone with gift cards or some other non traceable funds. never pay for official services with gift cards, #1 sign of a scam, no matter how official they may sound. when in doubt, search out official numbers or emails and follow up with them, if you are unsure.

[@gesnow]

Next time call the local cops…

[@vghc]

Hah! Connect thru WhatsApp is the first red flag. Run!!!

[@lotuseater7247]

It's easy to know they're fake. Not just that it's via an app, but because a real Chinese police officer would invite you for tea first.

[@Pkwen23]

common sense is so rare now a days, and i though those ways of scaming could never work but i was wrong lol

[@real_christian]

Seriously, you can't fall for that, can you? I mean it's 2024!

[@junaid2606]

The Chinese scam calls have been happening in Australia too, for a few years. I dont know if theyve escalated to this level though.

[@miketran4289]

They've been at this level for YEARS.. don't you read the news where people have faked kidnappings in Australia?

[@morgan1719]

Who doesn't know UK doesn't have an extradition treaty with China? This is just a gullibility tax

[@BillAnt]

Unfortunately anyone born in China has a kind of fear of government ingrained in their mind or are gullible, and that's what criminals are exploiting it.

[@jepulis6674]

Yes, its not like the unofficial chinese police stations are a thing. Oh wait, they follow and harrass people and threaten their relatives living in China.

[@lorenzoblum868]

Many people don't obviously. This lady should have immediately reported this event to the British authorities since she had doubt. She pays taxes. She might as well benefit from her contribution.

[@TheWebstaff]

​@@lorenzoblum868we hope she pays taxes.

[@fiazrehman5457]

Just like charity begins at home Like this if the ruling party's key position holders themselve are victims of someone 's above the laws activities without being able to make get investigated even a single complaint then what will happen with the whole country

[@Gizziiusa]

If I was in her position, (knowing wasnt involved in such criminal actives), i'd assume I was the victim of identity theft, and the person using my identity is doing such. Be that as it may, I wouldnt be giving money to any Chinese "authorities", even if they are legit. I'd most definitely hire a lawyer specializing in such, and let them do their job via contacting the Chinese Embassy and going from there. This woman has been in the UK for 30 years !!!! How on earth she simply sent money is baffling to me.

[@olivere5497]

No sympathy to her, she is an idiot. I feel sorry for the estate agent who was hoping to sell a flat.

[@iMageMotif]

I'd ask what precinct their at and tell them I'll call them back.

[@CalvinK-the_old_fogey]

Actually the scammers do not know her identity. She revealed her real name and the scammer acted as if they got her details in the first place.

[@noramoon8130]

Yeah. That's my point also. I myself know clearest about myself. No scammers can claim I am guilty of unknown crime

[@lorenzoblum868]

I think you can avoid the LAWYER$ FEE$$$ by directly reporting this to your local police station and embassy. Edit. Be aware scammers can hide anywhere, even within official governmental institutions...

[@tammyleung7578]

Real Chinese police operate like this too.

[@Rixynator]

And Singaporeans fall for this all the time. Singaporeans real dense.

[@timothyshiu2263]

Fake PG&E called about late bill (auto pay monthly) or faced cutting power. Becareful. Call the PG&E.

[@fizzer11]

Peoples stupidity never ceases to amaze me. But annoyingly when banks refund these idiots they pass those charges onto customers.

[@penparnsailarm7094]

If you born Chinese, you will understand why some of them would fall to this scam. My friend almost lose her savings to similar story. They play with your fear to be sending back to China and they know how bad of the situation it can get to.

[@jamesz1003]

i got a few of these a while back but I never gave a shit. My rule is, talk through the local authorities in person, other wise, even if you're the real chinese police, you can eat sht

[@lullemans72]

11:14 well simple, call your REAL family members and ask them! it can't be that hard.

[@045ladyM]

I got that message too😂 and from Chinese police.

[@durexuncensored]

At this time,you take taiwanese as chinese

[@mudani2300]

Guess the Nigerians are quiet for now 😂 The Bank returned the lady's money,she's lucky.

[@DarjaTruth]

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE FOOLING, BBC?

[@johniwuji]

I was thinking is only Nigeria and India that does this, this mean China 🇨🇳 is a third world country

[@sqrd3536]

Why would policemen have people's personal numbers? I think it's best to ask for advice from other people before doing anything.

[@jongym]

so many ppl comments as it's easy not get scammed. If you get tricked by a magician show, the same will happen. scammer are so good to "individualized" their scam narrative to trick you.

[@Moo2oob]

It's true. There is one born every minute.

[@Tenebris8444]

so will there be a redeem meme for the chinese scammers then??? or am i safe to assume that it's just idiots targeting an entire group over a small segments of scammers against the populous.

[@fng303]

Me and my friends.

[@cabletam]

if you do not have problem, no one can scam you , right ? why not calling locate police to help you ? what the hell you follow the instruction by phone of stranger you do not know ?

[@TheWebstaff]

Takes a long time to undo Brainwashing.

[@wifeofkhan9375]

😢

[@youknow6968]

The question is why are they afraid of Chinese police, so much, whilst living outside the country. That's insane level of control.

[@bullpup1337]

chinese secret police is known to abduct chinese overseas if they feel like it

[@kidShibuya]

The answer is in the video... That addressed that exact point ffs.

[@youknow6968]

@@kidShibuya I got it, but decided to leave my statement because it's a point that needs continuous highlighting. I like China, but can't say I like the recent changes, hopefully they'll find a balance soon.

[@arkizhi]

Switch on what’s app. Thought Facebook was banned, more believable if they said switch on wechat.

[@graphdatascientist]

love

[@germsage6726]

Where's the fake when they're MSS :v

[@Canoneosmiami]

They say there is a sucker born every day…

[@kevint8887]

Tricky, since half of Chinese prisoners are in jail for no reason at all, who's to know what's real or not.

[@jacksmith-mu3ee]

U mean usa jail

[@simonpeter9617]

You are not the master of your own

[@newstaro3460]

Yeah I got them and I'm not Chinese to start with. All this crap from China is really annoying to say the least.

[@jacksmith-mu3ee]

It's indian

[@lemedico]

100.calls per day in india