17 hours agoElaine Chong and Ed Main, BBC TrendingBBCHelen Young was targeted by scammers posing as Chinese police officers, leading her to feel “very stupid right now”. Criminals around the globe have launched an elaborate scam pretending to be Chinese police forces in an elaborate scam called Chinese Police Impostor Scheme that targets Chinese communities worldwide. “I feel really dumb right now,” Celen Young laments. “But there’s no way of knowing it’s not real. Helena’s story may sound outlandish but there have been multiple similar cases among Chinese diaspora communities around the world. China embassies worldwide issued public warnings against police impersonation scams; similarly, FBI warnings regarding police impersonation schemes also issued public alerts after several cases were discovered within US borders. One elderly Los Angeles woman recently paid out $3m, believing it would stop her extradition to China. Both the FBI and Chinese embassies worldwide have issued warnings about police impersonation scams; typically starting off with seemingly harmless calls that pose as police impersonators before evolving into something much bigger. Helen was approached by someone purporting to be Chinese customs officers who claimed an illegal parcel had been sent in her name; Helen hadn’t sent anything herself and was advised by police officials if she suspected anyone had stolen her identity. Helen wasn’t convinced at first. Since Chinese people like herself were taught obedience when growing up there, when asked by either party or parents for something it is uncommon that she will refuse. Helen was connected with an individual claiming to be “Officer Fang”, in Shenzhen. Helen asked for proof, so Officer Fang suggested they go on video call instead. Helen saw that when they connected, Officer Fang showed her an ID whose face matched his uniformed appearance and then used his phone to take her on a tour of what appeared to be an operational police station with several uniformed officers and an elaborate desk bearing an impressive logo for inspection. “Suddenly all my suspicions vanished. Helen quickly responded: ‘I apologize; however, these days one has to be very wary because there are so many criminals around’. As they spoke further, Officer Fang received an announcement asking him to take a call regarding Helen; when he returned later he no longer seemed interested in this illegal parcel. He informed Helen she was suspected of engaging in an extensive financial scam and she said, ‘That is ridiculous. Please show the evidence. ‘… Helen was shown what appeared to be a bank statement for an enormous sum in her name.” Officer Fang informed her that, if she were innocent, it was important that they worked together in finding those responsible. To secure that promise of confidentiality she signed an agreement committing not to inform others about this investigation. Helen was warned not to reveal that she had been interviewed by Chinese police as that would put her life in jeopardy. He stated, ‘if anyone finds out you have been interviewed by Chinese police, your life could be at stake’. “Helen was forced by her scammers to install an application so they could monitor her day-and-night activity, including listening in on calls at work.” For several days afterward, Helen tried her hardest to act normally at her work environment. She spent her evenings working on writing her personal statement as instructed. Officer Fang then called back with news that multiple suspects had now been detained by law enforcement officials. He presented Helen with written statements alleging various incidents against her, then sent a video which purported to show an accused prisoner confessing his fraud against Helen as boss, using this personalised video confession technique as part of their fraud plot against her. Due to wearing such a large Covid mask it’s nearly impossible to accurately interpret his lip movements on this video and what you may or may not hear matches exactly what is said from within it. An audio track that mentioned Helen or another victim could easily have had the opposite effect; when Helen, believing they were dealing with real police officers, heard their name mentioned by accident it caused vomiting; this gave Helen cause for alarm: she felt she was in deep, deep trouble after hearing “My Name Was Recited Live on Television!’. ” “Helen believed Officer Fang when he informed her she would be extradited to China despite being British citizen. Officer Fang told Helen: ‘So you have 24 hours, pack your bags. The police will come take you to the airport’.” Officer Fang also explained she could stop her extradition by raising bail funds in time.” Helen submitted her bank statements for inspection and was ordered to transfer PS29,000. At first Helen felt awful; after promising money for her daughter’s first flat purchase. But days later the fake police returned with orders demanding this sum be transferred immediately. Helen was ordered to collect PS250,000 or be extradited back to China: she battled to keep herself alive by doing so; once Helen attempted borrowing money from one friend he alerted their daughter. Helen ultimately broke down in tears before speaking up. But not before she had placed the phone in a kitchen drawer and taken her daughter into her bedroom with them and covered both with duvets so scammers wouldn’t listen in on what they had been discussing. Her daughter patiently explained it was all just an elaborate scam scheme. Helen eventually received a refund, though it could have had far worse ramifications: for two weeks she could hardly sleep due to someone spying on their phone and monitoring messages; during that period of insufficient rest she crashed twice while driving her vehicle. On a second occasion, she completely undid it all: “I didn’t kill anyone, but these types of criminal scams can kill people.” Other victims have experienced even greater hardship due to police impersonation scams. Chinese foreign students unable to afford fake police’s financial demands have been persuaded by false police to fake kidnappings to extract ransom payments from their families. Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi of New South Wales Police launched an anti-virtual or cyberkidnapping public awareness campaign following numerous instances in Australia. Victims are being coerced into filming themselves to appear as though they have been abducted, using techniques such as tieing them with tomato sauce to appear bleeding, calling out for help from loved ones, tying themselves up in chains with tomato sauce on their bodies to simulate blood loss, while appearing panicked,” according to New South Wales Police in Australia who issued warnings following an increase in virtual kidnapping incidents this month. Afterward, students are being forced to isolate themselves while their images are sent out via scammers back home along with ransom demands; victims could potentially find themselves helping other victims become involved further along this vicious circle of this fraud as well. Scammers use deception to persuade their victims that they represent the Chinese government, or are working under its authority. We spoke to a student from Japan who became aware that criminals had targeted him and recorded their conversation; he later shared it with BBC. He declined our offer of anonymity but made sure we got his recording.” Scammers had told him if he spoke of anything related to the call or revealed any details, then this could compromise an “investigation”. When he refused, they stopped harassing him; realising their mistake, they abandoned their pursuit altogether and moved onto other victims instead. Realising his luckiness of escape, he’s wise enough not to share details: “Never thought this would ever happen to me; be really cautious when getting a call from an unfamiliar number!”
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