A new round of investigation begins! Many Chinese in Cambodia received calls from the police station in their hometown
Headline information 2021-09-04 14:25:44Download APP to read, experience more exciting
Author: Yun Ni

According to sources, the flight from Phnom Penh to Xiamen was cancelled on September 19, and many netizens lamented that returning home was too difficult. No job, no money, and even flights back home have been cancelled. At present, the Chinese in Cambodia are facing difficulties in returning home, but on the other hand, they often receive "greetings" from the domestic police, hoping that they will return home as soon as possible.

Recently, it seems that China has launched a new round of investigation. Many Chinese in Cambodia have told about their experience of being investigated.

Do express business in Cambodia

I received a call from the police station in my hometown 4 times

A netizen who is engaged in express delivery business in Cambodia told Cambodia Toutiao that he recently received "greetings" from the domestic police station, and this is the fourth time.

It is understood that in December last year, this netizen received a call from the police from his hometown police station for the first time, and was very nervous at the time. But he has left the country legally, so it's good to make things clear. At that time, the police mainly asked him how he left the country, whether he had a ticket and passport, and took pictures for them to see. The second time I received a call from the police was in February this year, asking him whether he would go back during the Chinese New Year?



The third time I received a call was in March of this year, asking him what his job was, whether he had a passport, and then he had to sign a letter of commitment, promising not to participate in online gambling, and asked him to send his position in Cambodia on WeChat.

The fourth time I received a call in July this year, I asked this netizen what kind of work he was doing and asked him to issue a business license. But he set up a small stall, and few people went to apply for a business license. In addition, the police asked him when he would return to China.



This netizen said that he had seen some netizens receiving calls from the domestic police in Cambodia Toutiao before. So when he received a call from the police at his hometown police station, he was still a little bit mentally prepared. He is just worried that, like Myanmar, he is required to return to his country if he has a formal job or not. At that time, the ticket price was sent to the police for fear that the police would let him return home immediately. In July, the ticket price is 50,000 to 60,000 yuan, ($8000) and it is necessary to save more than half a year's salary to buy a ticket.

This netizen said he also wants to go back now, but the ticket is too expensive. So I bought a flight ticket for February next year, but I was still afraid of the flight cancellation. He cooperates very well with the police in the country. By cooperating well when the work is not busy, many links can be saved, and it is not easy for the police. This is their job.

Received a call from the police at work in the factory

Suspected of suspected telecom fraud

On September 3, a netizen also received a call from the police from the domestic police station. Because his domestic phone number could not be reached, the police from the police station found his daughter's phone number. After his daughter contacted the police, the police added his WeChat account.



This netizen told Cambodia Toutiao that the police had a fierce tone when they first called, as if they were interrogators, saying that they were suspected of telecommunications fraud and were on the list of telecommunications fraudsters. The police also asked him for his passport number, the validity period of the visa, and asked him to take a photo for the police to see. Not only that, the police also asked him to provide photos of the factory and working environment, and asked how their wages were paid? Is it cash, bank card, or WeChat.



When he provided all the information, the policeman's tone finally returned to normal. This netizen said that he understands the work of the police. Finally, the police also reminded him to pay attention to safety when going out!



This netizen said that if the police station asks anything, just answer it truthfully, and don't be afraid to do regular and legal work. When he first received the call, he was uneasy and suspected that he had been scammed. However, the police posted a video of the police station in his hometown to prove their police identity. In addition, he had seen it on the Internet before, and he also knew that the police station in his hometown would call for verification. He was doing regular work, so he was relieved.

Work at the hotel

Received a video call from the domestic police

Another netizen also revealed to Cambodian headlines that he also received a video call from the police at the police station in his home country on September 3. The police asked him what job he was doing in Cambodia, when he planned to return to China, what his contact information was, how many people he came to Cambodia with before, and so on. Then he had to provide his specific work address and photos of his work in the workplace. He answered and provided truthfully.



This netizen said that he understands the work of the police, but he feels a little uncomfortable in his heart. He didn't do anything illegal, and he had to be questioned when he went out to work, and he felt like being a thief. He now cares more about when the ticket can be lowered and then return home as soon as possible.



In recent years, there have been frequent incidents of online scams and young people entering online gambling companies. Many young people have been cheated to Cambodia because of the so-called "high salaries" and then sold into online gambling companies. Some even lost their lives.

Moreover, Cambodia has always been a high-incidence area of ​​telecommunications fraud. Previously, many people took advantage of local laws and other loose conditions to hide in the local area and engage in illegal activities. Few families suffered losses, and even their families were destroyed and the impact was very bad.

Therefore, the Chinese and Cambodian governments have carried out joint Chinese-Cambodia law enforcement actions to jointly crack down on illegal and criminal activities, mainly telecommunications fraud. In addition, strengthen the review and investigation of people leaving the country, and strictly crack down on illegal and criminal activities such as telecommunication fraud and online gambling.

Those who are engaged in legitimate work in Cambodia need not panic, and can actively cooperate with the work of the police station.

In addition, I once again remind young people to be wary of the high-paying recruitment traps in Southeast Asia and other places, and don't wait until they go astray and see the darkness of society before regretting them.

https://www.tnaot.com/zh/m/detail/artic ... channel=84

Here's the Chinese Embassy scam - you can see why the Chinese in Cambodia are a bit wary when they get contacted by "authorities".
Trust nobody.
Report from the FBI.


March 28, 2019
Alert Number
I-032819-PSA

Questions regarding this PSA should be directed to your local FBI Field Office.
Local Field Office Locations: www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices

Chinese Embassy Scam
Background

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has received multiple complaints from victims who were contacted via phone, text or other chat application by individuals speaking a Chinese dialect and claiming to be from the Chinese embassy or consulate. Other victims reported being contacted by individuals claiming to be from a shipping company stating there is a package waiting for the victim at the Chinese embassy. The phone calls are frequently spoofed1 in order to appear from a legitimate source.

In some variations of this scam, victims may be first told that a suspicious document, package, or person was found or detained, usually at an airport located in China. The person on the phone claims the victim's passport, social security card, or credit card was found to be in the package or on the suspicious person. Victims are then told they are under investigation and, in order to assist Chinese law enforcement, they must speak to an investigator.

In another variation of the scam, victims are contacted by individuals claiming to be from Chinese credit card companies saying they have overdue balances. Victims are instructed they must work with Chinese law enforcement to address the outstanding payment.

Victims are then transferred to "investigators," who advise victims they must wire funds to accounts located almost exclusively in China or Hong Kong to resolve the situation. Victims may also be requested to pay via credit card or virtual currency.2 If the victims do not cooperate, they are threatened with deportation, loss of assets, and/or jail.

If victims do not have the requested funds, the scammers may ask them to obtain a loan. They may also be requested to check in daily via an online chat application3 until payment is made.

Victims may be asked to keep silent about these events and not tell friends and family. It has been reported that criminal actors may contact victims' families at this same time to report their relative was kidnapped and demand a ransom. The criminal actors are then able to extort money from both original victims and their families.

Criminal actors may lend legitimacy to the scam by providing copies of documents with victims' pictures, passport numbers, social security cards, or financial data. They may also encourage victims to verify Chinese law enforcement phone numbers via the internet before they speak to investigators.

Between December 2017 and February 2019, the IC3 received more than 350 complaints from victims of this scam reporting a combined loss of more than $40 million USD. The average loss of victims reporting a loss is more than $164,000 USD.

The majority of victims filing with IC3 have names of Asian descent. Many of these victims reported themselves as students or visiting university faculty from China.

Victims from 27 states have reported this scam to the IC3, with 35% of victims residing in California and New York.

The number of complaints and amount of loss reported to IC3 reached a peak in May-June 2018, and again in December 2018-January 2019.

Chart displaying number of victims per month reporting this scam.

Chart displaying adjusted victim losses per month attributed to this Scam

Suggestions For Protection

If contacted by a number appearing to be from the Chinese embassy or consulate and/or a Chinese credit card company, always verify through outside sources the caller is legitimate.

The Chinese embassy or consulate will not contact you by phone for personal information, parcel pick-up, bank account information, or to answer inquiries from local Chinese law enforcement.4

Be wary of any requests for secrecy.

If you are contacted by fraudulent sources or fall victim to this scam, please file a complaint regardless of dollar loss with the IC3 at www.ic3.gov.
1. Spoofing is the act of disguising communication from an unknown source as being from a known and trusted source..↩
2. Virtual Currency is a form of digital currency that represents monetary value in electronic format.↩
3. Online Chat is a form of internet communication that offers real-time transmission of text messages from sender to receiver.↩
4. www.china-embassy.org, Phone Scam Alert 4/19/2018↩
https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2019/PSA190328

How sinister is that? Their local 'hometown' police calling them asking questions. What a terrible country it must be to live in.

If my local police station called me asking questions, they would get told to FRO. Fortunately there is little chance of this happening as they closed it down, sold it off and someone turned it into flats.