In a shocking and calculated crime, a Chinese international student studying in Northern Ireland fell victim to a ruthless scam, losing a staggering £200,000 to fraudsters posing as police officers. The incident has prompted local authorities to issue a warning to residents, especially students, about the dangers of such scams.
The victim, a young woman who remains anonymous, received a distressing phone call from an individual claiming to be investigating her for alleged involvement in money laundering. The call was just the beginning of an elaborate ruse orchestrated by cunning fraudsters. Two men, posing as officers from the fictitious ‘Beijing Police,’ further intensified the pressure on the student, threatening her with immediate arrest unless she complied with their demands to transfer £200,000.
What makes this scam even more sinister is the lengths to which the fraudsters went to appear genuine. They not only contacted the student online but also took the audacious step of dressing in police uniforms to further their deceit. However, beneath this façade of authority, they were nothing more than heartless criminals preying on innocent victims.
This incident is not an isolated one. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has revealed that two similar reports of scams targeting Chinese students studying in Belfast surfaced last year. In those cases, the victims collectively lost £105,000 to fraudsters who impersonated officials from the ‘Chinese Embassy’ and ‘Chinese police.’
To combat these scams, the PSNI has provided a set of vital rules that everyone should follow:
- Always hang up the call immediately if you suspect it is a scam.
- Delete text messages requesting personal information or bank account details.
- Never call the number back if it seems suspicious.
- Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited texts or responding to them.
- Never, under any circumstances, transfer money to another account without verifying the legitimacy of the request.
If you or someone you know has fallen victim to a scam, it is crucial to report it promptly to the authorities. You can contact the police at 101, inform your bank immediately, or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. Additionally, valuable information and advice are available on the official ScamwiseNI website at http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/scamwiseni and the ScamwiseNI Facebook page @scamwiseni.
Scams like these are a grave concern, and it is essential for everyone to remain vigilant and informed to protect themselves from falling victim to such heartless criminals. Authorities are urging the community to spread awareness about these scams to prevent further incidents and protect vulnerable individuals, especially students who may be far from home and unfamiliar with local laws and practices.
Resources:
1.https://www.psni.police.uk/latest-news/scam-warning-after-ps200k-loss-student-studying-ni
4.http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/scamwiseni