In May 2025, Ms. Wang from Shanghai received a private message on a short-video platform: “Old classmate, do you still remember me? I was your elementary school desk mate!” “What’s your name?” After exchanging questions, they resolved a “misunderstanding.” Over the next month, “he” gradually broke down Ms. Wang’s defenses with a series of carefully crafted deceptions. Recently, Pudong police intervened in time, exposing the “military classmate’s” gold investment scam.
On July 18, the Huiyuan Police Station of the Pudong Public Security Bureau received an anti-fraud alert indicating that a local resident, Ms. Wang, had repeatedly withdrawn large sums from her bank account, suggesting possible involvement in a telecom scam. “You may be falling victim to fraud!” Initially resistant to the sudden warning, Ms. Wang only realized the truth when officers pointed out inconsistencies in the scammer’s story. Shaken, she confessed everything.
It turned out that Ms. Wang, divorced for years, had met a man online who claimed to be a “soldier.” His calm and composed demeanor, typical of military personnel, gradually lowered her guard, and their relationship quickly “intensified.” After some time, she noticed he seemed unusually “busy.” Upon questioning, he mysteriously revealed an “exclusive gold investment opportunity”—highly profitable but restricted due to his status. He earnestly asked Ms. Wang to act on his behalf. “This is an internal channel with guaranteed returns.” The professional-looking trading platform he sent appeared convincing. She tentatively invested and, seeing the numbers in her account rise, abandoned her last doubts. Ignoring his “warnings,” she poured in her savings.
“They always collected cash in person!” After police intervention, Ms. Wang gave up her illusions. Following her leads, detectives tracked down two “money mules” involved in transferring illicit funds. “They’ve entered Shanghai—move quickly!” On July 26, officers located the suspects in Xuhui District, arresting Li and Chen and seizing ¥350,000 in cash stolen from another victim.
During interrogation, the two admitted their crimes, revealing that since June, they had followed instructions from their superiors to collect cash from victims across Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, earning commissions per transaction. The “soldier” Ms. Wang trusted was merely a fabricated identity—his uniform photos stolen online, the investment platform fake, and the “profits” nothing but manipulated numbers. His seemingly caring “warnings” were just part of the act to reinforce the scam.
Currently, suspect Li has been detained on fraud charges, while Chen faces bail pending trial. The investigation continues, with efforts underway to recover lost assets.
Police remind the public: Anyone online claiming a “special status” and promoting “exclusive, risk-free investments” is a fraudster! Remember: Any request for cash delivery to a “fund manager” is a scam. If officers visit for verification, cooperate immediately to prevent further losses.
