Many times, Liu Siqing doesn't want to mention the experience of being cheated a few months ago, because "when I recall it, the bad emotions will come back."
Liu Siqing is currently studying in Berlin, Germany. From October 2 to 8, 2023, she fell into a telecommunications fraud trap due to a "suspicious package" message claiming to be from an international express company. She told Southern Weekend reporters that multiple scammers pretended to be public prosecutors and judicial officers and remotely controlled her to transfer a total of approximately 75,000 yuan to multiple accounts in the name of "asset custody and inventory."
In recent years, telecommunications fraud has targeted overseas students, and similar cases have been reported frequently.
According to the "Xinhua Daily Telegraph" disclosed on November 30, 2023, the Shanghai Anti-Fraud Center analyzed the cases of overseas students being defrauded since 2022 and found that the average age of the victimized international students in the cases was only 22 years old, and the youngest was only 17 years old, the age group is mainly concentrated in the "post-00s".
Factors such as students living alone, time differences between home and abroad, and being far away from home abroad have given fraudsters opportunities to take advantage of them, and they have even created "e-mail fraud scripts" tailored for international students.
According to data released by the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester, from January to September 2023 alone, they received numerous reports of Chinese students experiencing telecom fraud, with the amount involved reaching nearly 100 million yuan. Many Chinese embassies and consulates abroad have also issued security reminders to remind Chinese students to be wary of telecommunications fraud.
packaging character, "believe it"
On October 2, 2023, Liu Siqing in Berlin, Germany received a strange call. The other party spoke Chinese and claimed to be "customer service of ups international express delivery company." According to him, "undeclared drugs" were found in an international package sent by Liu Siqing, which is currently being detained by the customs in a city in Guangdong. If the package is not resolved as soon as possible, he will face corresponding fines. During the call, the other party also reported Liu Siqing’s mobile phone number and an address in Berlin, Germany.
"The address format is completely correct and very real. Looking at the postal code, it's really not far from where I live." Liu Siqing said that she made a special trip to verify the address afterwards, only to discover that the address was fake. However, Liu Siqing had no idea at the time, and the sudden appearance of the "problem package" made her feel confused and anxious.
At this moment, the other party gave a solution "in a timely manner".
"customer service" claimed that it could transfer Liu Siqing to the police station where the incident occurred, and the police would issue a document proving that it had nothing to do with the package in question. Subsequently, the other party also reported the express delivery time, recipient's address and name, customs fastener number and other detailed information for her to confirm with the "police".
To be cautious, after transferring the call to the police, Liu Siqing, who was vigilant, specifically asked the other party to confirm her identity. At this time, the other party asked her to check the phone number of the local public security bureau online on the spot. Shortly after hanging up the phone, a call came in that was consistent with the online directory check. "After answering the call, I found that it was the same voice as the person who had transferred the call before."
Coincidentally, Maggie, a sophomore in London, England, and Ann, a junior in Melbourne, Australia, also encountered similar scams. The same scammer pretends to be a public prosecutor, the same calls are transferred directly to the police station, and the caller is also required to prove his or her innocence by reporting a crime. The only difference is that the initial call originates from a different place.
Among them, Ann was told that "the domestic social security card has been stolen", and in the call received by Maggie, the other party claimed to be a staff member of the "Chinese Embassy in the UK" and said that the phone card under his name continued to send harassing text messages to others. It may affect their visa to study in the UK.
maggie received this unknown call on December 13, 2023. "Because my BRP (biological information card) was about to expire at that time, I reported it to the school where I was studying two days before the incident. So when the other party said that this was related to my visa, I immediately believed it."
According to the accounts of many victims, after contacting the "police", both parties usually conduct online "recordings" through communication software such as Skype and Whatsapp. Through video software, both Liu Siqing and Maggie saw their "police officers" handling the case. Liu Siqing remembered that the other person "was wearing a light blue police uniform and a white mask, and the background looked like the white wall of an office."
However, such face-to-face communication is extremely short-lived. “The connection has been intermittent, saying it’s too far away."Liu Siqing said that before she said a few words, the other party turned off the camera. In the next few days, the two parties continued to talk using video software, and the other party never turned on the camera again.
maggie also mentioned that she really talked to the police officer." There were only two opportunities to face each other face to face. At that time, the other party was "wearing a police uniform, with the national emblem, police station and other elements in the background, and wearing a mask."
Both of them found that during the communication process, the word "police" appeared repeatedly on the other end of the phone. elements, constantly strengthening the psychological implications.
For example, the account name sent by Liu Siqing’s “police officer” handling the case is [email protected], and his social account avatar is the solemn national emblem of China. During online chats, Liu Siqing can also Hearing the other party use a walkie-talkie to communicate about the case with terms such as "dongyaodongya" is "just like in a TV series." Maggie also mentioned that when communicating online, you can hear the other party "typing on the keyboard or talking on the phone." "The sound of sealing official documents".
Moreover, at the beginning of the "record", the "police officer" often "carefully" tells the reporter to protect the information to avoid being misappropriated by criminals. These make the "reporter" feel good Doubled.
According to public reports, currently telecom fraudsters can already use number-changing software to change the caller ID, realizing "display whatever number you want to display." Moreover, through AI face-changing technology, criminals can also use the relatives of the deceived person. , leaders, colleagues or public officials, pretending to be the identities of the above-mentioned people to defraud.
Many victims of electronic fraud recalled to Southern Weekend reporters that although the process is full of loopholes now, they have gone through "call verification" and "face verification". After multiple steps such as "verification" and "realistic details", they have gradually believed in the identity of the "police officer" in front of them.
"Everyone has their own underlying needs." When a person's deep psychological needs are activated, the person may be controlled. For example, inducement scams and intimidation scams meet people's needs to seek benefits and avoid harm. "Yuan Jie, a distinguished researcher at the School of Psychology at South China Normal University, told Southern Weekend reporters that in cases of electronic fraud involving impersonation of public prosecutors and law enforcement agencies, victims often think they are dealing with real public prosecutors and law enforcement agencies before they realize the scam. Once a trusting relationship is established, Under the "threshold effect", they will act step by step according to the other party's requirements. Moreover, the victims in such cases are often in panic and anxiety, and their cognition tends to be narrow, which in turn affects their rational decision-making and actions, and they are more susceptible to psychological Manipulation.
Intimidation and suppression, "scared"
In October 2023, Liu Siqing, who was studying in Berlin, Germany, encountered telecommunications fraud, and suffered verbal violence and mental suppression. (Photo provided by the interviewee)
After the initial trust was established, the real The scam started.
“Just when I was about to hang up the phone, they suddenly said that a bank card in my name was involved in a large-scale money laundering case. "Maggie told Southern Weekend reporters that when the report record of the so-called "harassing text messages" was coming to an end, the "police officer" on the other side sent a series of "red-headed documents" one after another, including wanted orders, confidentiality agreements, asset freezing orders, etc. "All of the above "I have my personal identity information and the profile picture on my passport."
Among them, the screenshot of the "arrest warrant" that Maggie showed to Southern Weekend reporters showed that a domestic bank account under her name "involved money laundering of up to 3.08 million yuan, and the number of victims nationwide was as high as 17 "person". The "arrest warrant" states that the case has been "assigned a special prosecutor to supervise" and is listed as a "national second-level confidential case". For "criminal suspects with bad attitudes and serious circumstances", "immediate execution of compulsory arrest, "Detention and prohibition of appearance." The document was signed by the Pudong Branch of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau and the Shanghai People's Procuratorate.
Similarly, Liu Siqing also received a similar red-headed document.
"The first was a pdf electronic file of the money laundering case, with pictures and text. . Then came the arrest warrant, which had a photo of my ID card and was stamped by a court in Shanghai. "Because her domicile is in Shanghai, Liu Siqing did not have much doubt about this arrest warrant.
After showing the "evidence", the "police officer" began to explain the seriousness of the incident in a stern voice.
"The other party said that all the current evidence points to me. Legally I am a wanted criminal.If you return to your country, you will be arrested the moment you pass the security check. "Maggie said. She was in the UK at the time and could not return home in the short term to verify the authenticity of the liar's statement. And without suffering any property damage, she could not explain or ask for help to the local police.
"Transnational Arrest" "Deportation" "Return to the country", "visa cancellation", "criminal record"... For students who are not experienced in the world, such threats will undoubtedly cause huge psychological panic.
"The scammer also said that if I return to the country as a criminal suspect, not only will I It will affect my visa and my family. "Under multiple fears, Maggie was "scared." Especially when she searched online and found that the police station number was consistent with the caller, and the other party issued many official documents to prove it, "the few sanity she had also disappeared." .
According to the interviewees, after being informed that they were involved in a major case, the "police officer" did not immediately ask them to transfer or remit money, but continued to "lay the groundwork" and instead asked the victim to contact the higher-level "Special Prosecutor General" ", allowing the scam to enter the next stage.
During this period, the scammer skillfully used PUA techniques during the communication process. On the one hand, he intimidated and suppressed, and on the other hand, he encouraged and trusted. "One red face and one white face" and "Hit a stick. Give me another sweet date."
In Liu Siqing's experience, the scammer gang created two roles: "warm-hearted police officer" and "irresponsible prosecutor".
In order to "obtain the opportunity to reduce the crime", Liu Siqing contacted the "Prosecutor" many times "Chief", with a humble attitude and proactive cooperation, hoping to win the opportunity to "suspend the freezing of the arrest execution order and prioritize the custody and inventory of funds." However, the other party repeatedly urged her to return to the country and surrender, saying that the arrest order would take effect in a few hours. Even though When Liu Siqing found out that he would not be able to catch the return flight that day, the other party still had a tough attitude, saying, "The case is so bad, do you think a few words on the phone can explain it? If you have anything to say, explain it to the judge in court."
In contrast, when Liu Siqing felt that the process was troublesome and was about to give up, the "enthusiastic police officer" kept encouraging and caring. For example, "I risk losing my job to introduce you to you. "To the prosecutor general" "I will accompany you to handle the case smoothly, come on" "It is already in the final stage, don't waste all your efforts" etc. Although the two "roles" of
have a division of labor, they are not Fixed.
When Liu Siqing was reminded by relatives and friends at a later stage and asked to see the other party’s police ID, the usually “enthusiastic” police officer suddenly changed his tone and reprimanded him uncharacteristically: “Don’t negotiate terms with me, what is your identity? "I will personally apply to bring you back early in the morning to cooperate with the investigation. After you return to the country, you can reflect on yourself in prison."
Under such intimidation, suppression and verbal violence, the interviewee spent every day in extreme suffering and psychological pressure. Huge.
Tailor-made, carefully hunted
Before this, the three international students interviewed had never experienced or learned about telecommunications fraud such as "pretending to be a public prosecutor." Similar deceptions hit their cognitive blind spots.
Liu Siqing said that she had never seen similar anti-fraud news before, so she did not think about telecommunications fraud from beginning to end when she was defrauded. "Maybe I have been studying, and my life has been relatively simple since I was a child."
In Maggie's perception, Scams target people who are greedy for petty gains. "You can avoid fraud as long as you are not greedy for petty gains and do not answer or ignore any calls or letters from strangers."
ann said that the most common scams he heard during his study abroad were emotional scams. "Pig-killing plate", there is indeed a lack of understanding of "pretending to be a public prosecutor" type of fraud.
Telecom fraud appeared in Taiwan as early as the 1990s, and was later introduced to mainland China, giving rise to many "variants". In order to combat telecom fraud, various places in recent years have The anti-fraud propaganda and anti-fraud news reports initiated by the government are frequently seen on the micro-ends of various online newspapers. The first Anti-Telecom Internet Fraud Law will also be officially implemented on December 1, 2022.
According to anti-fraud reminders issued by police in many places in the country , the public security organs will not handle cases through social tools such as phone, QQ and WeChat, nor will they issue "wanted orders" on the Internet, nor will they ask you to provide bank card passwords, verification codes and other information over the phone.
However, many people still fall into the trap every year.
In recent years, many netizens have shared their experiences of telecommunications fraud while studying and working overseas on social platforms. In summary, it can be seen that, unlike common domestic electronic fraud routines, there are “exclusive scripts” for electronic fraud activities targeting overseas students.
Scammers will first contact international students by pretending to be staff members of public prosecutors, embassies, customs, international express companies, etc., and then investigate them on suspicion of money laundering, smuggling, smuggling and other criminal activities. The overseas students are most concerned about their studies, visas, etc. They threatened and intimidated them, and finally asked them to transfer money to obtain illegal benefits.
In many cases, overseas students are thousands of miles apart from their home country, and there is a time difference. Once you encounter a scam, you will not be able to get in touch with your relatives and friends in China immediately, resulting in poor communication. This has given telecom fraudsters an opportunity to take advantage of it.
According to the "Xinhua Daily Telegraph" disclosed on November 30, 2023, the Shanghai Anti-Fraud Center analyzed the cases of overseas students being defrauded since 2022 and found that the average age of the victimized international students in the cases was only 22 years old, and the youngest was only 17 years old, the age group is mainly concentrated in the "post-00s". The shortest time between "exiting the country and being defrauded for the first time" is only 1 day, and more than half of the people who were defrauded were within 6 months.
Moreover, many international students interviewed mentioned that after being informed that they were involved in the case, the scammer asked the victim to sign a confidentiality agreement on the grounds that the case was still under investigation. This means that the victim cannot reveal or discuss the incident with anyone. Otherwise, "if the secret is leaked and the person is alerted, he will be charged with obstructing the police's handling of the case, and he will be sent to jail and sentenced."
takes Liu Siqing's experience as an example. At the request of the other party, she maintained a real-time connection with a video account called "Skynet Monitoring System". And he was told that "if you leave the monitoring for more than three minutes without any advance report, this alarm will sound." In the following days, Liu Siqing made so-called "safety reports" at regular intervals, and even personal actions such as using a mobile phone and going to the toilet required "consent."
The chat records Liu Siqing showed to Southern Weekend reporters showed that she had sent a security report to the other party. "14:03 German time, it will take about 3 minutes to leave the surveillance camera and go to the bathroom." Soon after, she sent "Reply at 16:06."
Moreover, once the report is not made in time, the other party will ask in a harsh tone, such as "Why didn't you make a safety report?" "This safety report record will be submitted to the people's court, didn't you know?" "Didn't I tell you?", high pressure Surveillance brought great psychological pressure to Liu Siqing.
"At that time, my communication with relatives and friends was also controlled by scammers. In the first few days, I had to take screenshots when using my mobile phone and report why I was using it. In the next two days, when I used my mobile phone to reply to messages or answer calls, I had to ask them first, so , they all know the content of my chat with my relatives and friends."
Recalling this slightly absurd experience, Liu Siqing realized that in fact, the so-called monitoring by the other party meant that when you were on the phone with them, the other party could always hear the sound and even watch. to the video. In fact, the victim's mobile phone or communication device has not been hijacked and can hang up at any time.
"But I had already fallen into the trap and was always in a state of proving my innocence. And I believed in my heart that they were the police and the judge, and I signed a confidentiality agreement first. So I actively cooperated in the whole process." Liu Siqing said.
maggie also encountered similar high-pressure surveillance.
"The other party asked me to download the Skype software. The camera is on 24 hours a day and the sound cannot be turned off. Every two hours, I have to use the software's built-in positioning to send them the location and attach an environmental map." According to Maggie's recollection, after the other party learned about the software on her phone, he asked her to uninstall several social software by name.
"My guess is that there may be these scam-related posts on it, and they are worried that things will be exposed." Maggie said.
"Invisible losses"
In the end, this telecommunications fraud cost Liu Siqing 75,000 yuan in her account.According to the transfer records kept by Liu Siqing, she transferred small amounts four times to four "unknown" domestic bank accounts on October 3, 2023.
"At that time, the scammer asked me to make up various excuses to defraud my parents of money. Later, when my parents insisted on not giving money, the scammer instructed me to sit on the window sill, pretend to commit suicide, and deceive my parents into remitting money on the grounds of personal safety." Liu Siqing said, After several days of wrangling, her parents still insisted not to remit the money and asked local friends to drive to Liu Siqing's residence in person to understand the situation. Finally, with the help of Liu Siqing's friends and parents, she realized that she had suffered a telecommunications fraud.
Another person who was also promptly dissuaded by relatives and friends was Ann who was studying in Australia.
She said that the day after the incident, Ann promptly contacted her parents in China and felt depressed under the high mental pressure. But due to the threat of the liar, Ann dared not tell the truth. Later, the parents, who were very vigilant, insisted on asking local friends to come to check, and then discovered the other party's telecommunications fraud tactics. Although
did not suffer any monetary losses, the telecommunications fraud also brought huge mental pressure to the interviewees.
ann mentioned that he received the scam call at 2 pm on the first day and lasted until 10 pm local time. During this period, "the other party kept talking, and I had no time to react. I was completely nervous all afternoon." Moreover, the scammer knew her personal information very well. In addition to her ID card photo, her domestic address, her grandfather's home address, and even her address in Melbourne were all known to the other party.
"The feeling of terror is really indescribable. I was alone at home and lived in an apartment with a balcony. I felt like someone would come out of the balcony at any time, so the door to the room was locked that day." ann explain.
Among the three, Maggie suffered more monetary losses.
According to the bank transfer record sent by Maggie, an account under her name at HSBC Hong Kong transferred 1.4 million Hong Kong dollars to the scammer’s Standard Chartered Bank account. “This money was remitted to me by my mother. At that time The scammer asked me to deceive my mother into giving money by claiming to be a property fair trader. Before that, I used my own savings to transfer HKD 300,000 to the scammer," she said.
maggie admitted that he had not committed any "criminal" behavior. At that time, he thought that as long as he cooperated with the other party to handle these matters, even the transferred money would be returned in full and the matter would be resolved. In fact, under the high-pressure surveillance of the scammer, Maggie also had a call with her family, but "the family did not see any flaws."
“I didn’t want to involve my family at the time, and I felt that even if I told my family the truth, I wouldn’t be able to provide any help and would only make them worried,” Maggie said.
After the incident, Liu Siqing and Maggie, who suffered property losses, both chose to call the police at home and abroad. Since the incident occurred abroad, they felt there was little hope of recovering their losses. "I think the money will probably not be recovered. What we can do now is spread the news and try not to let more people be deceived." Maggie said.
"In telecom fraud cases, scammers often use some psychological principles to build trust. For example, through the 'suspension bridge effect', inducing the victim's fear and anxiety." Yuan Jie, a distinguished researcher at the School of Psychology at South China Normal University, said that in time Give advice, share fears, and then paralyze the victim, quickly establishing a trusting relationship in a short period of time.
In recent years, "scripts" for telecommunications fraud have emerged one after another. Different from long-running scams such as "Pig Killing Plate", in cases of "pretending to be a public prosecutor" telecom fraud, the victim is often made to obey the scammer's words in just a few hours, or even self-isolate and actively lose contact.
Whether it is a fake dating scam, a scam by pretending to be a public prosecutor, or a fake lottery scam, there are traces of psychological manipulation behind it.
Yuan Jie believes, “For inducement-type scams, we must understand that pie will not fall in the sky. As for intimidation-type scams, we need to stay calm, consciously seek verification from relatives and friends around us, and conduct more communication and exchange of information. In this way, It will be easier to regain rationality and cognition and see through the scam in time."
(Liu Siqing, Maggie, and Ann are pseudonyms in the article)
Southern Weekend reporter Mao Shujie Southern Weekend intern Xu Ziyi
editor-in-chief Yao Yijiang
