By tf-lawyer.com In an interview with a representative from the Anhui Bengbu police, it was revealed that a major online scam has been dismantled. The scam operated under the guise of “earning money effortlessly through certificate handling and affiliation.” As of now, nine key suspects have been taken into custody, and other participants have faced legal repercussions as investigations continue.
Between January and February 2024, the Longzi Lake Division of the Bengbu Public Security Bureau took decisive action by sending a specialized team to Nanchang, where they successfully broke up the scam operation. Close to one hundred suspects were apprehended, and the total financial impact of the scam exceeded 80 million yuan.
One victim, Mr. Yang, a recent college graduate who was unemployed in August 2021, received a call from someone claiming to be Mr. Wang from Hongxin Educational Training Company. The caller accurately identified Mr. Yang’s three certificates and promised help in securing an affiliated company position, suggesting an annual income of 120,000 yuan. Tempted by this offer, Mr. Yang unwittingly walked into a trap.
Following the instructions from Mr. Wang, Mr. Yang sent copies of his certificates to the company. Subsequently, he received another call from a person claiming to be a manager at a construction company, Mr. Liu, who stated that more qualifications were required for affiliation to this company, which would lead to even greater profits. Eager to start working, Mr. Yang was convinced and ended up spending 110,000 yuan over two months to obtain over twenty certificates, all while the promised “affiliation fees” were never paid.
As time went on without receiving the promised payments, Mr. Yang began to have his doubts. In March 2023, he chose to report the incident to the police.
The Longzi Lake division promptly formed a task force to investigate. Utilizing the information provided by victims, the officers were able to identify over 500 additional victims through phone communications and field visits. After two months of relentless effort, the police pinpointed the scam’s operational base in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province.
By January 2024, all preparations for the arrests were complete. The team traveled to Nanchang and conducted a successful operation over the course of one day and night, capturing nine key members of the scam and seizing multiple phones and computers used during their operations.
As the investigation progressed, more than a hundred suspects were apprehended, effectively dismantling the scam ring that had promised easy money through certificate affiliations.
Investigations revealed that many members of the group had only completed high school, with a six-month training period required before they could begin scamming. They had fixed scripts and strategies in place, specifically targeting recent graduates or those who had graduated within two years, exploiting a psychological angle that suggested they could earn money without working. Notably, in just three years, the scam resulted in financial damages surpassing 80 million yuan.
