Although I didn't shop online, I inexplicably received a courier package. Have you ever received an unfamiliar express delivery? Not long ago, Mr. Dong received a strange express delivery. Upon opening it, he found that it was a refund notice in the name of a state agency. Is this a 'pie' or a 'trap'?
1. Case Review
Recently, Mr. Dong received a "red headed document" sent in the name of the "State Administration of Financial Supervision and Administration", stating that he now needs to handle the refund and collection of funds for some investors of a certain platform.
Mr. Dong was previously scammed out of 100000 yuan by investing on a certain online platform. Upon seeing the "clearance notice", he immediately scanned the code and joined the "clearance rights protection" group.
Mr. Dong: At that time, I saw the special seal of the State Administration for Financial Regulation on the envelope, which was a red headed document, so I believed it. I feel quite lucky to be able to get back the money I was scammed before.
According to Mr. Dong's description, the customer service representative handling the "refund and collection" told everyone in the group that as long as 10% of the investment amount is paid as a deposit, all the investment fees at that time can be recovered.
Mr. Dong: Because he was cheated out of 100000 yuan, he was very anxious. He said he would be happy to refund the money, but he didn't think too much about it. There are about 20-30 people in the group, many of whom have paid a deposit and received a 'refund'.
Seeing that everyone could receive a 'refund', Mr. Dong was both excited and anxious. Just as he was preparing to raise a deposit, the police came to his door and told him not to transfer money. According to the police, in this so-called rights protection group, except for Mr. Dong, everyone else is entrusted.
II. Characteristics of Scams
Feature 1: Precise Strike for Secondary Damage
Usually, the main target of such scams is victims who have suffered losses on various informal investment platforms, which can be described as precise strikes and secondary harm. Criminals will impersonate the investment platform of 'Baolei' and the P2P platform shut down by 'Baolei' online, posting 'announcements' of' clearing investment funds', 'compensating refunds' and other content, attracting the attention of previous victims and guiding them to contact' customer service 'or' scan the code to join the group '. In addition, due to the serious leakage of personal information of the victims before, criminals will directly contact the victims, impersonate platform operators or financial regulatory department staff, and notify them of the refund of investment funds. Under the psychological influence of the victim's eagerness to collect payment, they often contact the criminals without distinguishing, thus entering the trap set by them.
Feature 2: Combination of online and offline counterfeit files
Sending fake files to the target to gain trust is another significant feature of this type of scam. Victims often receive counterfeit "State Administration for Market Regulation" or "Red headed Documents" signed and stamped by regulatory authorities such as the State Financial Supervision Administration through express delivery. The document impersonated the name of the regulatory authority and issued a "refund and refund" notice on a certain platform, requiring the victim to immediately contact and obtain a refund. Due to the victim's previous investment behavior, they often firmly believe in the content of the "file" and follow the other party's instructions to make phone calls or use WeChat to contact them. Some even follow the guidance to download and install an illegal app.
Feature 3: Forming Encirclement Information Bombardment
When the victim enters a QQ or WeChat group, they will find that there are still many members in the group, chatting enthusiastically every day. Various discussions on refund steps, refund conditions, refund time, and other information are flooding in, and at the same time, people occasionally post pictures indicating that they have successfully retrieved their money. The atmosphere and positive information in the group will make victims let go of their guard and eager to try. But little did they know, in fact, he was the only one in the entire group who was a "sheep", while the others were all "wolves". They were all children disguised as scammers, and everything was said to him alone. All the plays were performed by him alone.
Feature 4: Clever excuses to make payment before refund
Once the groundwork is laid, the time is ripe for scammers to take action. When the victim is full of hope to start the "clearance", various names of payment before refund begin to appear one by one, requiring the victim to pay various fees first before returning the previous investment funds. Common types of fees include: paying taxes and fees, paying late fees, filling in the wrong bank card number to offset funds, account unblocking fees, refund processing fees, unfreezing funds from high-risk accounts, and so on. The victim pays one amount and then demands another, constantly paying without any refund. Once the victim becomes aware and realizes they have been deceived, the scammer will cleanly blacklist the victim and never appear again.
III. Fraud Prevention Reminder
To stay away from the trap,
Protect your own information security and property security,
Be sure to keep these points in mind.
1. Financial regulatory authorities do not directly handle financial transactions and do not engage in any financial transactions with consumers. The financial regulatory authorities have never established or authorized the establishment of P2P, investment and wealth management "repayment channels", and will not carry out fund clearance work to the public through QQ groups, WeChat groups, trading platforms, etc. Consumers are advised to be vigilant and beware of being deceived.
2. Choose legitimate financial services from legitimate institutions. If consumers have financial needs such as borrowing, wealth management, insurance, etc., they should obtain financial services through institutions with corresponding business qualifications. Do not blindly believe in the "low interest and fast", "mortgage free guarantee" loan business and "guaranteed high return" wealth management products promoted through informal channels such as unfamiliar phone calls, text messages, advertising flyers, social media, etc.
3. Strengthen personal information protection and guard against information leakage. For "internal information" from unknown sources and information released and disseminated through unofficial channels, consumers should carefully identify, properly keep important information such as ID number number, bank card number and password, verification code, etc., do not click on unknown links or download unknown APP, do not share screens with strangers, carefully provide personal information to the outside, and avoid property losses due to information disclosure.
Comprehensive content from Jiaozuo Anti Fraud Center, Chaoyang District Financial Dispute Mediation Center in Beijing, and Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture Banking Association
