Public Service Announcement

Memorandum for PSA regarding scam targeting U.S. based Chinese Nationals

April 25, 2024

The FBI released a public service announcement (PSA) on January 3rd, 2024 warning the public about criminal actors impersonating Chinese police officers to defraud the U.S.-based Chinese community, in particular Chinese students attending universities in the United States. The criminal actors tell the victims they are being investigated for an alleged crime in China and must pay money to avoid prosecution. The actors will then direct victims to consent to 24/7 video and audio monitoring. The scheme consists of four phases:

    1. Initial contact: U.S. business or Chinese Embassy/Consulate Imposter

      Criminal actors call victims using a spoofed telephone number that appears to be coming from a legitimate organization or Chinese Embassy/Consulate. They inform the victims that their personal identifiable information is linked to either a subject or a victim of financial fraud investigation.

    2. Scare Tactics: Chines Police Imposter

      Criminal actors then transfer the call to a “Chinese provincial police department” that is investigating them. Another actor then poses as a Chinese police officer and informs the victim of details of the alleged crime they committed, and restitution required to avoid further punishment. The supposed police officer offers fraudulent documentation and charges of the alleged crime, then may pressure victim to pay or else face deportation to China.

    3. Surveillance of Victims

      Criminal actors demand victims to consent to 24/7 video and audio monitoring due to the alleged sensitivity of the investigation and/or to demonstrate the victims’ innocence. Victims are instructed not to discuss the details of the case, not to conduct internet searches, and report all their daily activity.

    4. Final Act: Extortion of Victims

      Criminal actors instruct victims to wire a large amount of money to a Chinese bank account to prove their innocence or to post bail to avoid having to return to China. In some instances, victims are told to fabricate stories to secure additional money, to serve as a money mule, or to facilitate similar criminal schemes against other Chinese students in the United States.

What to do if you encounter this scenario

  • If an unknown individual contacts you to accuse you of a crime, do not release any personal identifiable or financial information. Cease any further contact with individual.
  • Contact from a seemingly legitimate phone number is not proof of official business. Actors may be disguising or “spoof” their actual phone number.
  • If you are contacted by any government agency for an alleged official purpose, you may verify the contact is official by (1) using public sources to identify government agency’s contact information then (2) directly contacting the agency to confirm the legitimacy of the interaction.
  • Do not consent to video or audio monitoring.
  • If you believe you have been contacted by a suspected criminal actor claiming to be a Chinese authority, contact your local FBI field office. Foreign government officials conducting legitimate law enforcement activity in the United States must act in coordination with U.S. federal authorities.
  • Report these interactions to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov as soon as possible. Be sure to include as much information related to interaction as possible.

In addition to tips above, the following actions may be taken:

  • Report activity to the payment service provider used for the financial transaction.
  • Contact your financial institution to stop or reverse the transaction. Ask the financial institution to contact the corresponding financial institution where the funds were sent.
  • Report activity the activity to IU Public Safety to elevate awareness within the IU Community.

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