Students Share Their Scam Experiences
Scammers, crooks, and identity thieves target people they believe they can outsmart. They can manipulate you to pay through threats and demands; here are two students who experienced similar experiences with telephone scammers. We share their stories anonymously in hopes we can help you learn what to look for if you get a suspicious call.
Fraudulent Impersonators of the Chinese Embassy in Canada
Around January 6, I received a call from the "Chinese Embassy in Ottawa." On the phone was an automated voice saying that I had an "important document" that I had not picked up, which might restrict my entry into and out of Canada. So I followed the automated voice’s instruction; I pressed one, and an agent took my call. They asked what went on with the “important document.” They sounded like they didn't know what was going on and asked permission to open my "important document."
After confirmation, the agent told me that authorities found a person named Liu Wen carrying my passport at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, which resulted in restrictions for me to enter or leave Canada. The "staff" of the so-called "embassy" told me that if I wanted to remove this entry and exit restriction, I needed to report the case to the Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau. He transferred the call to the "Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau."
The person who answered the call self-identified as "Officer Zheng"; acted like he didn't know what was going on at first. I told him about the phone call with the "embassy." "Officer Zheng" replied that if I wanted to get a clearance report from the police, I would need to first formally report the case. He took my statement while I shared what happened. During this period, "Officer Zheng" showed concern for me, increasing my trust in him.
"Officer Zheng" then informed me that he received another notice that I was a suspect of being involved in the "Zhang Yun Transnational Money Laundering Case."
He accused me of selling my passport information, and "Zhang Yun" used my identity to open a bank account to launder money. Even though I repeatedly emphasized that I had not disclosed my identity, "Officer Zheng" said I must cooperate with their investigation.
A few days later, "Officer Zheng" handed me over to "Prosecutor Wang". This person pretended to be Chief Prosecutor Wang Xiongfei (this person is real, I found his information online). This further confused me and made me believe the whole ordeal was real. "Prosecutor Wang" had a stern attitude; he claimed that he wanted to give the victim an explanation. He also told me that an old man committed suicide by jumping off a building because I sold my passport privately and let "Zhang Yun" launder money. I couldn't help feeling responsible, he was very convincing, and I believed him!
Later, with the plea of "Officer Zheng," "Prosecutor Wang" agreed to clear my assets first. The method was to transfer cash from a Bitcoin ATM. Since my card could only withdraw $400 cash at a time, it took me days to transfer $15,000.
Next, "Officer Zheng" asked me to contact the "police" through an app called Telegram and asked me to report my location to them every three hours by sending a selfie.
After transferring $15,000, they asked me to provide financial proof of $ 30,000. I sent the money via CIBC's international transfer. In the end, they asked me to transfer $15,000 as my "bail" bond and said that they would return the money.
At this point, I realized it was a scam. I told this story to my aunt, a former police officer, who confirmed it was a scam.
Reflection:
This scam made me feel that I had reported the case myself, but my aunt told me that the Chinese police could not forward my call to another phone number!
The fake police also told me that this "case" involved "Second Degree State Secrets,” and I could not tell anyone. But there's nothing you can't share with your family about! If you encounter such a situation, please think about it. Can you really get into big trouble? My aunt also shared that the real police would never contact a suspect with a phone call. The police will visit in person; they will never contact you on the phone to accuse you of a crime and ask you to transfer money.
案例1
大概是在一月六号的时候，我接到了一个来自“渥太华大使馆”的电话。电话里是一段机器人的提示音， 说我有一封“重要文件”未领取，可能会导致限制出入境。于是我就转到了人工客服并且询问了“重要文件”是怎么回事。“工作人员”也是一副不知道发生了什么的样子并向我确定要不要打开那封“重要文件”。
在和我确认他可以帮我打开文件后，他告诉我一个叫刘雯的人在广州白云机场被查出来携带了我的护照导致我现在是限制出入境的身份。“使馆”的“工作人员”告诉我如果我想消除这个限制出入境的话，我需要向广州市公安局报案，并把电话转到了“广州市公安局”。
接电话的人自称是“郑警官”而且他刚开始表现得也不知道发生了什么事然后我向他讲述了刚才和“大使馆”通电话的事。“郑警官”说如果要开证明的话就要先报案然后我们就做了笔录。期间，“郑警官”也表露了对我的关心，好让我更加的相信他。
然后，“郑警官” 就接到了通知，说我涉嫌参与“张芸跨国洗钱案”因为我私自贩卖我的护照导致“张芸”用我的身份信息开了银行账户洗黑钱。虽然我一再强调我没有泄露过我的身份信息，但是“郑警官”一再强调空口无凭让我配合调查。
接下来，“郑警官”让我通过一个叫Telegram的App与“警方”联系并让我每三个小时向他们汇报地点而且要发送一张我的自拍。
过了几天，“郑警官”把我移交到一个叫“王检察官”。这个人冒充的是王雄飞检察长（这个人的名字是真的，可以查得到的，进一步迷惑我让我觉得整件事是真的。） “王检”的态度很坚决，声称要给受害者一个交代并且告诉我因为我私自贩卖护照，让“张芸”洗黑钱导致一位老伯跳楼自杀了。我当时也没办法因为我相信了！
后来，在“郑警官”的求情下，“王检”才同意优先清查我的资产。方法是用现金从比特币ATM转过去。因为我的卡一次只能取400刀，所以我分了好多天转过去15000刀。
在转完15000到之后，他们又让我提供30000到的财力证明。我通过CIBC的国际转账把钱转了过去。最后他们还让我转15000刀作为“取保候审”的费用并声称会把钱还回来。
此时我意识到是诈骗了。在向当警察的朋友讲述了这件事情之后，确认就是诈骗。
反思：这次诈骗会让人觉得是自己报的案，但是警察朋友告诉我中国警察的电话是不能被任何电话转接的！假的警察还告诉我这次“案件”涉及到“国家二级机密”所以不能告诉任何人。没有什么是不能和家人说的！如果遇到这种情况的话，请想一想，你能犯这么大的事么？我的这个警察朋友还告诉我，真的警察是不会跟犯罪嫌疑人电话联系的。他们会直接上门找到你，不会让你转账之类的。