University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses

A psywar over the phone

(USC Thesis Other)

A psywar over the phone

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Content A P s y w a r Ov e r Th e P h o n e
by
X i nl u L i a ng
A The s i s P r e s e nt e d t o t he
F A C U L T Y O F TH E U S C A N N EN B ER G S C H O O L
F O R C O M M U N I C A TI O N A N D J O U R N A L I S M
I n P a r t i a l F ul f i l l m e nt of t he
R e qui r e m e nt s f or t he D e gr e e
MASTER OF ARTS
(SPECIALIZED JOURNALISM)
M a y 2020
i i
T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s
A b s t r a c t ……… …… ……… …… …… ……… …… …… ……… …… …… ... .. ... .. .. ... .. ⅲ
A P s y w a r O ve r T he P hone ..... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....1
M i s s i on I m po s s i bl e .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... ..... .... .... .... .... .... ..... . 7
G one F or e ve r ......... ............ ............ ............ ............ ........... ............ ............ ............ . 10
C r i m i na l H i e r a r c hy . ........ ............. ............ ............. ............ ............. ............ ............ 12
A t t r a c t i ve T a r ge t s ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. .. 18
“ C a t c h - 22 ” ……… ……………… ……………… ……………… …………… ..... 23
D on ’ t G e t F o ol e d A ga i n ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... .. ... .. 26
A P s y c h ol ogi c a l T ol l ........ ........ ........ ......... ........ ........ ........ ......... ........ ........ ......... .. 29
R e f e r e nc e s ……… …… …… ……… …… …… ……… …… …… …… .. ……… …… .. 32
i i i
A b s t r a c t
T hi s pa pe r e x pl or e s how c r os s - bor de r phone s c a m m e r s s w i ndl e C hi ne s e s t ude nt s i n
t he U .S . out of t e ns of t hous a nds of dol l a r s a nd i nf l i c t l a s t i ng e m ot i ona l ha r m . B e hi nd
t he s e t he f t s a r e c r i m i na l s y n di c a t e s w ho r un hug e , w e l l - or ga ni z e d ope r a t i on w i t h
m ul t i pl e t i e r s w or ki ng out of di f f e r e nt c ount r i e s . B y de pl oy i ng w e l l - s c r i pt e d t a c t i c s ,
t he y pr e y on s t ude nt s ’ f e a r s —f r oz e n ba nk a c c ount s , e x t r a di t i on t o C hi na , y e a r s i n
pr i s on, s ha m e —t o g a i n t he uppe r ha nd i n a ps y c hol ogi c a l w a r g a m e . C hi ne s e s t ude nt s
i n t he U .S . m a ke f or e nt i c i ng t a r g e t s . T he y a r e i n unf a m i l i a r s ur r oundi ngs a nd of t e n
s oc i a l l y i s ol a t e d. M os t of a l l , t he y a r e l oa de d w i t h c a s h t he y ha ve br ought ove r t o pa y
he f t y uni ve r s i t y t ui t i on f e e s . T hough A m e r i c a n uni ve r s i t i e s ha ve c om e t o r e l y on
C hi ne s e s t ude nt s , w ho now a c c ount f or c l os e t o a t hi r d of a l l t ui t i on dol l a r s c ol l e c t e d
f r om i nt e r na t i ona l s t ude nt s , t he y do l i t t l e t o pr ot e c t t he m . L a w e nf or c e m e nt i s a l s o
be hi nd t he c ur ve . T he s c a m s a r e c a r r i e d out ove r s e a s , but t he vi c t i m s a r e i n t he U .S .,
a l l ow i ng a ut hor i t i e s i n bot h c ount r i e s t o c l a i m , c onve ni e nt l y , i t ’ s be y o nd t he i r
j ur i s di c t i on. T he s c a r s t he s e s c a m s l e a ve be hi nd a r e pa i nf ul a nd s l ow t o he a l .
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A P s y w a r O v e r T h e P h o n e
“ H i , i s t ha t X i nl u L i a ng? ” T he c a l l e r , s pe a ki ng i n C hi ne s e , w oke m e f r om a na p. “ T hi s
i s a c a l l f r om U P S . Y o u ha ve a s us pi c i ous pa c ka ge bl oc ke d a t C hi ne s e c us t om s . ”
M y he a d be ga n t o s pi n out of dr ow s i ne s s . T he pe r s on on t he ot he r e nd of t he l i ne
c he c ke d t he i nf or m a t i on on t he pa c ka ge . “ I f t hi s pa c ka ge i s not y o ur s , t he n y o ur
pe r s ona l i nf or m a t i on m a y be l e a ke d. W e s ug ge s t y o u r e por t t o t he C hi ne s e pol i c e . ”
A s a C hi ne s e g r a dua t e s t ude nt i n j our na l i s m a t t he U ni ve r s i t y of S out he r n C a l i f or ni a ,
I ha d a r r i ve d i n t he U ni t e d S t a t e s j us t 45 da y s e a r l i e r , a nd e ve r y da y w a s a s t r ug gl e :
s e ve n hour s of c l a s s e s f ol l ow e d by m or e hour s of w r i t i ng . I ha d f e w f r i e nds i n L os
A nge l e s , a nd l i t t l e f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h A m e r i c a n ha bi t s . O ne of m y f e w c om f or t s w a s
oc c a s i ona l vi s i t s t o a n A s i a n s upe r m a r ke t 30 m i l e s a w a y .
I ha d, i n f a c t , be e n w a i t i ng f or a pa c ka ge f r om U P S w i t h m y unde r g r a dua t e di pl om a ,
a nd t r a ns c r i pt s . W ha t i f s om e one ha d s t ol e n m y i nf or m a t i on? Y e s , I w a nt e d t o s pe a k
w i t h t he pol i c e . T he pe r s on c onne c t e d m e .
S om e one w ho i de nt i f i e d hi m s e l f a s Z hi g a ng X u, a pol i c e of f i c e r i n B e i j i ng, pi c ke d up
t he l i ne , a nd a gr e e d t o f i l e a r e por t . H e r e m i nde d m e how i m por t a nt i t i s t o pr ot e c t m y
da t a . “ M s . L i a ng, l e t m e r un y o ur na m e i n t he da t a ba s e t o s e e i f y o ur i nf or m a t i on ha s
be e n us e d a ny w he r e e l s e , ” he s a i d , a nd pl a c e d m e on hol d.
2
M i nut e s l a t e r , he c a m e ba c k on t he l i ne . “ X i nl u L i a ng! W hy doe s y o ur na m e pop up i n
t he bi g ge s t m one y - l a unde r i ng c a s e i n C hi na ? ” he a s ke d.
“ I don’ t know w ha t y o u ’ r e t a l ki ng a bout ! ” I r e s ponde d. I di dn ’ t ha ve t he s l i g ht e s t i de a
of t he c r i m i na l j us t i c e s y s t e m e i t he r i n C hi na or t he U .S . I w a s be w i l de r e d , a nd
t e r r i f i e d.
I w a s a l s o hooke d. C onvi nc e d t ha t I ha d be c om e a n unw i t t i ng a c c om pl i c e i n s om e
i nt e r na t i ona l c r i m e r i ng , I w a s s udde nl y de s pe r a t e t o c l e a r m y na m e . T he ne x t 72
hour s w e r e a bl ur . I w a s n ’ t s l e e pi ng or t hi nki ng s t r a i ght . T he n, f i ve da y s a f t e r I
r e c e i ve d t ha t f i r s t c a l l , I m a de t he bi g ge s t m i s t a ke of m y l i f e : I w a l ke d t o t he ne a r by
B a nk of A m e r i c a br a nc h , a nd t r a ns f e r r e d e ve r y t hi ng I ha d —$43,000 t ha t w a s
s uppos e d t o c ove r t ui t i on, r oom , a nd boa r d f or a y e a r —t o w ha t I be l i e ve d w a s a n
of f i c i a l a c c ount i n H ong K ong. T hi s , I w a s a s s ur e d, w oul d be onl y t e m por a r y , s o
a ut hor i t i e s c oul d pur s ue t he i r i nve s t i g a t i ons , a nd de c l a r e m y i nnoc e nc e .
Y o u ha ve pr oba bl y f i gur e d out a t t hi s poi nt w ha t w oul d t a ke m e a not he r t w o da y s t o
r e a l i z e : I ha d f a l l e n f or a s c a m . H ow c oul d I be s o g ul l i bl e , s o f ool i s h, s o s t upi d? I
ha ve be e n a s ki ng m y s e l f t ha t e ve r y da y s i nc e . A nd I ’ m not a l one .
S t ude nt s f r om C hi na s t udy i ng a br oa d a r e be i ng t a r g e t e d a t a n a l a r m i ng r a t e , w i t h
3
s om e be i ng f l e e c e d ( a s I w a s ) f or t e ns of t hous a nds of dol l a r s . B e hi nd t he s e t he f t s a r e
c r i m i na l s y n di c a t e s w ho r un, a c c or di ng t o one s c a m m e r , “ a hug e , w e l l - or g a ni z e d ”
ope r a t i on w i t h m ul t i pl e t i e r s w or ki ng out of di f f e r e nt c ount r i e s ( G ua ngdong H i g he r
P e opl e ’ s C our t 2019) . B y de pl oy i ng w e l l - s c r i pt e d t a c t i c s , t he y pr e y on s t ude nt s ’
f e a r s —f r oz e n ba nk a c c ount s , e xt r a di t i on t o C hi na , y e a r s i n pr i s on, a nd s ha m e —t o
g a i n t he uppe r ha nd i n a ps y c h ol ogi c a l w a r g a m e .
C hi ne s e s t ude nt s i n t he U .S . m a ke f or e nt i c i ng t a r g e t s . T he y a r e i n unf a m i l i a r
s ur r oundi ngs , a nd of t e n s oc i a l l y i s ol a t e d. M os t of a l l , t he y a r e l oa de d w i t h c a s h t he y
ha ve br ought ove r t o pa y he f t y uni ve r s i t y t ui t i on f e e s . T houg h A m e r i c a n uni ve r s i t i e s
ha ve c om e t o r e l y on C hi ne s e s t ude nt s , w ho now a c c ount f or c l os e t o a t hi r d of a l l
t ui t i on dol l a r s c ol l e c t e d f r om i nt e r na t i ona l s t ude nt s , t he y do l i t t l e t o pr ot e c t t he m . L a w
e nf or c e m e nt i s a l s o be hi nd t he c ur ve . T he s c a m s a r e c a r r i e d out ove r s e a s , but t he
vi c t i m s a r e i n t he U .S ., a l l ow i ng a ut hor i t i e s i n bot h c ount r i e s t o c l a i m , c onve ni e nt l y ,
i t ’ s be y o nd t he i r j ur i s di c t i on.
T he s c a r s t he s e s c a m s l e a ve be hi nd a r e s l ow t o he a l . E ve n now , m ont hs l a t e r , I s t i l l
s hudde r w he n I t hi nk how I a l l ow e d m y s e l f t o be pl a y e d l i ke a pa w n. I t w i l l t a ke y e a r s
t o r e c oup t he f i na nc i a l l os s , a nd w ho know s how l ong f or t he e m ot i ona l l os s .
B ut i n t ha t m om e nt on t he phone , i t w a s di f f e r e nt . M y pa r e nt s ha d f ought t he i r w a y
out of a ba c kw a r d vi l l a ge i n H una n P r ovi nc e , m a de i t t o uni ve r s i t y , a nd w or ke d ha r d
4
t o be c om e E ng l i s h t e a c he r s i n t he c i t y of G ua ngz hou, a m e t r opol i s i n s out he r n C hi na .
O ve r t he pa s t t w o de c a de s , t he y s c r i m pe d a nd s a ve d f or a l l t he f e e s I ne e de d t o s t udy
a br oa d. T hi s one - y e a r e x pe r i e nc e i n t he U .S . w a s not onl y m y dr e a m , but t he i r s a s
w e l l .
S o w he n “ O f f i c e r X u ” ha d m e on t he phone dur i ng t ha t f i r s t c a l l , I w a s f r oz e n i n f e a r .
T he c a s e de m a nde d s om e one hi g he r up, he s a i d, a nd he t r a ns f e r r e d m e t o hi s c a pt a i n,
J un M a . “ O ur c a pt a i n i s t oug h, ” he w a r ne d m e . “ Y o u ’ d be t t e r be pr e pa r e d. ”
T he ne x t voi c e on t he phone i de nt i f i e d hi m s e l f a s C a pt a i n M a , a nd he g ot s t r a i ght t o
t he poi nt . “ H ow do y o u e x pl a i n how t he c r i m i na l s ha ve a c r e di t c a r d i n y o ur na m e
w i t h R M B 230,000 ( $33,238) on i t ? X i nl u L i a ng! Y o u a r e a s us pe c t ! Y o u m us t
c oope r a t e w i t h t he pol i c e ! ”
T he r e m us t be s om e m i s t a ke , I i ns i s t e d. H e c ut m e of f , s a y i ng, “ T hi s i s a hi g hl y
c onf i de nt i a l c a s e . Y o u m us t not t e l l a ny t hi r d pa r t y or y o u w i l l be j a i l e d f or a t l e a s t
t hr e e y e a r s by l a w . ”
H e t ol d m e t ha t w he n w e s poke I s houl d m a ke s ur e t ha t I w a s a l one , i n a r oom by
m y s e l f w i t h t he door l oc ke d. “ T o ke e p i t s e c r e t , c a l l m e ‘ B r ot he r M a ’ i ns t e a d of
‘ C a pt a i n M a ’ f r om now on. D o y o u unde r s t a nd? ”
5
“ Y e s , B r ot he r M a , ” I s a i d, m y t hr oa t pa r c he d.
“ D o y o u unde r s t and ? ”
“ I unde r s t and , B r ot he r M a . ”
“ G ood. N ow y o u m us t r e por t e ve r y m ove t o m e e ve r y t w o hour s , i nc l udi ng w he r e y o u
g o, w ho y o u g o w i t h, w ha t y o u do, a nd how l ong y o u s t a y . T e xt m e e ve r y t i m e y o u
g e t up, a nd g o t o be d. ”
I hung up , a nd t r i e d t o c om pos e m y s e l f . I ha dn ’ t done a ny t hi ng w r ong. I f I c oul d j us t
s t a y c a l m dow n , a nd c oope r a t e , t he n I ’ d be f i ne , I t ol d m y s e l f .
F or t he ne x t f i ve da y s I l i ve d i n a c ons t a nt s t a t e of f e a r . I di d e x a c t l y w ha t B r ot he r M a
t ol d m e t o.
H e t e xt e d m e on i M e s s a ge a w a r r a nt f r om t he N a t i ona l C onf i de nt i a l i t y B ur e a u t ha t
na m e d m e , a nd w a s e m bl a z one d w i t h r e d s t a m ps . H e s e nt pa pe r s e x pl a i ni ng t he l e ga l
r i ght s of a s us pe c t , a nd a l i s t of vi c t i m s of “ m y m one y - l a unde r i ng c a s e ” w i t h phot os .
S om e of t he m , he s a i d, ha d c om m i t t e d s ui c i de be c a us e of t he pr e s s ur e . H e ke pt
que s t i oni ng m e , “ H ow do y o u e x pl a i n t hi s ? W ha t do y o u t hi nk of t ha t ? D on ’ t y o u f e e l
g ui l t y f or t he vi c t i m s ? ”
6
O n t he f i f t h da y , M a t e x t e d m e t w o or de r s w i t h a n a ut hor i z e d s t a m p t ha t r e que s t e d I
be e x t r a di t e d t o C hi na , a nd a l l m y m one y be f r oz e n. I w a s de va s t a t e d. A f e w da y s
e a r l i e r I ha d be e n l i vi ng m y dr e a m : s t udy i ng j our na l i s m i n t he U .S ., t he r e s ul t of y e a r s
of s t udy , a nd s t r ug gl e , a nd s a c r i f i c e by m y s e l f , a nd m y pa r e nt s . N ow , I w or r i e d I
c oul d be s e nt ba c k t o C hi na , a nd w i nd up i n pr i s on.
B e f or e I c oul d t a ke i t a l l i n, B r ot he r M a phone d m e . T he onl y opt i on l e f t , he
i ns t r uc t e d, w a s t o t r a ns f e r m y m one y t o a ba nk a c c ount s pe c i f i e d by t he s e ni or
pr os e c ut or , J i a n L i u. B r ot he r M a s a i d i t a ppe a r e d t ha t m y pe r s ona l s a vi ngs w e r e t he
pr of i t s of t he m one y - l a unde r i ng s c he m e , a nd t ha t w i r i ng t he m one y w oul d a l l ow t he m
t o i nve s t i g a t e t he s our c e .
P r os e c ut or L i u c a l l e d m e a f t e r t w e nt y m i nut e s but s e e m e d c ol d: N o, he s a i d, I c oul d
not t r a ns f e r t he m one y . I n ve s t i ga t i ng m one y w a s di f f i c ul t —s o di f f i c ul t t ha t t he y di d i t
onl y i n s pe c i a l c a s e s . M i ne w a s not a s pe c i a l c a s e . I be gge d hi m f or ha l f a n hour .
F i na l l y , he s i g he d , a nd a gr e e d t o pr ovi de t he a c c ount i nf or m a t i on f or w he r e I w a s t o
s e nd t he m one y . T he a c c ount be l ong e d t o “ C ha ng L i - Y u , ” w hom he s a i d w a s a n
of f i c e r f r om t he I n de pe nde nt C om m i s s i on A ga i ns t C or r upt i on i n H ong K ong, a n
or g a ni z a t i on t ha t s pe c i a l i z e s i n c he c ki ng c r os s - bor de r f i na nc i a l t r a ns a c t i ons .
I hung up, r us he d t o t he ba nk , a nd t r a ns f e r r e d t he e nt i r e s um , $43,000.
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M i s s i on I m p os s i b l e
I w a s now br oke , but , s t r a nge l y , r e l i e ve d. T he m a t t e r w oul d be c l e a r e d up s oon , a nd
t ha t t he ne x t c a l l f r om L i u w oul d br i ng g ood ne w s . M y m one y w oul d be r e t ur ne d.
T w o da y s l a t e r , L i u c a l l e d m e . H i s a t t i t ude ha d c ha nge d f r om de t a c he d pr os e c ut or t o
he l pf ul t e a c he r . L i ke B r ot he r M a , he a s ke d m e t o c a l l hi m “ T e a c he r L i u, ” s o a s not t o
t i p of f a ny f e l l ow C hi ne s e s t ude nt s w ho m i g ht ove r he a r our c onve r s a t i ons . H e s e nt m e
e nc our a gi ng t e xt m e s s a ge s . M y f e a r be ga n t o e bb; T e a c he r L i u w oul d he l p g ui de m e
out of t hi s m e s s , I t houg ht .
“ … H a ve a g ood r e s t , a nd w a i t f or t he r e s ul t t om or r ow . D on ’ t ove r t hi nk t oo m uc h.
T i m e i s t he be s t e vi de nc e …”
T he n, t w o da y s a f t e r I ha d t r a ns f e r r e d m y e nt i r e s a vi ngs , I g ot a not he r c a l l f r om
T e a c he r L i u. H e t ol d m e t he c a s e w oul d be c l os e d i n a w e e k. T he y j us t ne e de d one
m or e a s s ur a nc e : a not he r $50,000 t ha t w oul d s e r ve a s “ ba i l m one y . ” T he n e ve r y t hi ng
w oul d be f i ne , he a s s ur e d m e .
I w a s s hoc ke d. I t houg ht I w a s c l os e t o c l e a r i ng m y na m e . I w a s br oke but now
ne e de d t o c om e up w i t h a not he r $50,000. I c oul dn ’ t t e l l a ny o ne be c a us e of t he r i s k of
br e a ki ng c onf i de nt i a l i t y . B ut I pa ni c ke d, a nd c a l l e d m y pa r e nt s a t m i dni g ht .
8
“ M om , y o u know t he t ui t i on f e e f or t he f a l l s e m e s t e r i s due s oon, but now t he r e ’ s a
di s c ount i f w e pa y t he s pr i ng s e m e s t e r a l t og e t he r , ” I t w a s a n e x c us e T e a c he r L i u ha d
s ug ge s t e d. “ C oul d y o u pl e a s e g i ve m e a not he r $50,000? ”
S he w a s n ’ t buy i ng i t . “ W ho t ol d y o u a bout t hi s ? ” m y m ot he r s a i d. “ S c r e e ns hot t he
a nnounc e m e nt , a nd s e nd i t t o us .”
“ A c t u a l l y I l os t m y de bi t c a r d y e s t e r da y , a nd s om e one s t ol e a l l t he m one y i n i t , ” I s a i d ,
bur s t i ng i n t e a r s .
T he y w e r e s us pi c i ous . “ W ha t ha ppe ne d, L u l u? I ’ m y o ur m om ! W hy c a n ’ t y o u t e l l
m e ? ”
“ W hy c a n ’ t y o u j us t be l i e ve m e ! I t ’ s ur g e nt , a nd s e c r e t ! ” I s c r e a m e d f r om t he
ba t hr oom . I pul l e d m y ha i r , c r i e d , a nd be gge d. “ I ’ l l t e l l y o u e ve r y t hi ng a f t e r a w e e k ,
a nd t he m one y w i l l be ba c k i n t w o w e e ks . ”
W e qua r r e l e d f or a n hour . I g r e w s o t i r e d t ha t I s a t a ga i ns t t he ba t hr oom w a l l , e y e s
da z e d, a nd ke pt r e pe a t i ng one s e nt e nc e e m ot i onl e s s l y , “ P l e a s e g i ve m e t he m one y .
P l e a s e g i ve m e t he m one y …”
“ W a s t hi s a s c a m ? ” m y f a t he r w onde r e d. B ut I ha d f a l l e n s o de e pl y i nt o t he w e b of
9
l i e s t ha t I w a s s ur e m y f a t he r w a s m i s t a ke n. M y f a t he r w a nt e d t o t e l l t he pol i c e , but I
be gge d hi m not t o , a f r a i d t ha t t hi s w oul d br e a k t he c onf i de nt i a l i t y a gr e e m e nt , a nd
l a nd m e i n pr i s on.
T he n I hung up t he phone , a nd t ol d T e a c he r L i u t ha t m y pa r e nt s w a nt e d t o c ont a c t t he
pol i c e . I f e a r e d he w oul d be a ngr y w i t h m e . I n s t e a d, he of f e r e d c om f or t . “ I t ’ s ok. L e t ’ s
t a l k a bout t hi s t om or r ow . B ut y o u c a n t r a ns f e r t he m one y i n y o ur B a nk of C hi na
a c c ount now t o a not he r I C P C a c c ount f or c he c ki ng . ”
I t ol d hi m I w a s t oo t i r e d , a nd w oul d r a t he r do i t t he ne x t da y . S udde nl y , T e a c he r L i u
br i s t l e d, “ T he n y o u ’ r e not c oope r a t i ng w i t h t he pol i c e ! …C a pt a i n M a , a nd I w i l l a l s o
be puni s he d! ” H e l e t out a l ong s i g h , a nd c l os e d t he t a l k, “ Y o u di s a ppoi nt m e . ”
H i s r e a c t i on di dn ’ t s ound pr of e s s i ona l , I t houg ht . F or t he f i r s t t i m e i n t hi s s e ve n- da y
ody s s e y , m y c onf i de nc e i n t he m w obbl e d . W e r e m y pa r e nt s r i ght ?
I c ons ul t e d a l a w y e r f r i e nd of m i ne i n C hi na .
“ I t ’ s a s c a m ! ” s he bl ur t e d out . “ J us t c l i c k onl i ne , a nd y o u ’ l l s e e how m a ny c a s e s l i ke
t hi s ha ppe ne d f our t o f i ve y e a r s a go. ”
I c ol l a ps e d i n a c ha i r .
1 0
G on e F or e ve r
A s e ns e of l ong l os t pe a c e f ul ne s s l oom e d ove r m y m i nd. I ha d l os t m y e nt i r e s a vi ng s .
B ut , oddl y , I w a s a l s o r e l a x e d. M y l i f e c oul d g o ba c k t o nor m a l . O r s o I t houg ht .
I n a w e e k, I ha d t a l ke d t o f our s c a m m e r s , a nd f i e l de d 25 c a l l s , a nd ove r 200 m e s s a ge s .
W hy w oul d s o m a ny pe opl e be i nvol ve d i n w e a vi ng s uc h a n i nt r i c a t e l i e t o m e , a
21- y e a r - ol d s t ude nt ?
I t os s e d a nd t ur ne d a l l ni g ht . P a ni c k s hi f t e d t o a nge r , a nd t he n ha t e s m ol de r e d i ns i de
m e . T he ne x t m or ni ng , I w a l ke d t o U S C ’ s D e pa r t m e nt of P ubl i c S a f e t y t o m a ke a
r e por t . O f f i c e r A ddi s S i m ps on f r om D P S f oc us e d on t he m one y t r a ns f e r , w i t hout
g i vi ng m e a c ha nc e t o t e l l hi m i n de t a i l how I f e l l f or t he s c a m i n t he f i r s t pl a c e . T he r e
w a s no t r a ns l a t or , s o I w a s f or c e d t o f um bl e f or w or ds t ha t w e r e n ’ t y e t i n m y
voc a bul a r y . ( L a t e r , I he a r d f r om D P S ’ C om m uni t y R e l a t i ons M a na ge r E l i z a be t h
C a r r e ño- D i a z ( 2019a ) t ha t D P S s ubs c r i be s t o a “ l a ng ua ge ba nk ” w he r e t r a ns l a t i ons
c a n be done ove r t he phone , but t hi s opt i on w a s n ’ t of f e r e d t o m e a t t he t i m e .)
I n t he e nd, O f f i c e r S i m ps on f i l e d a r e por t t o t he L os A ng e l e s P ol i c e D e pa r t m e nt ,
w hi c h w oul d t a ke ove r m y c a s e . H e a l s o g a ve m e a c opy of t he D P S i nve s t i g a t i ve
r e por t , w hi c h c ons i s t e d of t w o s e nt e nc e s i n de s c r i bi ng m y c a s e : “ S us p t ol d vi c t , s he
w a s s us pe c t e d of m one y l a unde r i ng, a nd s he ne e de d t o pa y $43,000 t o c l e a r he r na m e .
V i c t t r a ns f e r r e d m one y . ” ( S i m ps on 2019)
1 1
I t he n w e nt t o t he B a nk of A m e r i c a br a nc h w he r e I ha d t r a ns f e r r e d t he m one y t w o
da y s e a r l i e r . T he y s e t up a c a s e f or m e but t ol d m e i t w a s t oo l a t e f or t he ba nk t o s t op
t he t r a ns f e r . T he m one y w a s m os t l i ke l y g one . A s t a f f e r a t t he br a nc h t he n a s ke d m e t o
c a l l t he i r hot l i ne e ve r y w e e k f or f ol l ow - ups , w hi c h I di d f or t w o m ont hs . I w a s f i na l l y
t ol d t ha t t he be ne f i c i a r y a t t he H S B C H ong K ong ha dn’ t r e s ponde d.
1 2
C r i m i n al H i e r ar c h y
I ha d c om e t o t he U .S . t o s t udy j our na l i s m . S o I ha d one opt i on: s ha ke f r e e of m y
s e l f - pi t y , a nd i nve s t i g a t e t hi s c a s e l i ke a j our na l i s t .
I por e d ove r doz e ns of c our t ve r di c t s obt a i ne d f r om t h e C hi na J udg e m e nt O nl i ne , a n
a r c hi ve of C hi ne s e l e ga l c a s e s . I l e a r ne d a bout t he C hi na - ba s e d c r i m i na l r i ngs . I s a w
how ba nds of c r i m i na l s i n H una n P r ovi nc e c hos e t he i r m a r ks , obt a i ne d pe r s ona l
i nf or m a t i on , a nd s c r i pt e d t he i r c on ( Z huha i X i a ngz hou D i s t r i c t P e opl e ’ s C our t ,
G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e 2017) . I pi e c e d t og e t he r how t he G ua ngx i g a ngs pe r f or m e d t he i r
t r i c ks , a nd i ns i s t e d a f t e r be i ng c a ught t ha t t he y w e r e i nnoc e nt , a nd i nvol unt a r y t o
c om m i t t he c r i m e i n t he f i r s t pl a c e ( G ua ngz hou I n t e r m e di a t e P e opl e ’ s C our t ,
G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e 2019b) ; a nd I di s c ove r e d how T a i w a ne s e bos s e s di vi de d t he
m one y w i t hi n a hi e r a r c hi c a l or g a ni z a t i on ( Z huha i I nt e r m e di a t e P e opl e ’ s C our t ,
G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e 2019b) . A l t houg h t he s e c r i m i na l s t a r g e t vi c t i m s i n C hi na , t he i r
t a c t i c s a r e m uc h t he s a m e a s t hos e w ho pr e y on C hi ne s e s t ude nt s ove r s e a s .
I t w a s he r e t ha t I f ound a c onvi c t e d s c a m m e r de s c r i bi ng t he “ hug e , w e l l - or g a ni z e d ”
ope r a t i on ( G ua ng dong H i g he r P e opl e ’ s C our t 2019) . T he y r e c i t e l i ne s f r om hundr e ds
of pa ge s of s c r i pt s , m a ke not e s of e ve r y s uc c e s s f ul c on, a nd f i ne t une , a nd i m pr ove
t he i r t a c t i c s i n da i l y m e e t i ngs .
T he s o- c a l l e d “ g ove r nm e nt i m pos t e r s c a m s ” a r e e f f e c t i ve be c a us e t he y a r e r un by
1 3
m a s t e r - m a ni pul a t or s w ho w i n t he t r us t of C hi ne s e s t ude nt s . O n t he s ur f a c e , t he c ons
pr e t e nd t o us e t hr e e e c he l ons of l a w e nf or c e m e nt —a n of f i c e r , a c a pt a i n, a nd a
pr os e c ut or . B ut i n f a c t , t he f r a uds t e r s ope r a t e d i n a m or e c om pl e x f i ve - l e ve l hi e r a r c hy ,
a c c or di ng t o t e s t i m ony f r om a s c a m m e r by t he l a s t na m e of H e w ho w a s c onvi c t e d i n
2019 i n Z huha i , G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e ( Z huha i I n t e r m e di a t e P e opl e ’ s C our t ,
G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e 2019b) .
T he s c a m m e r s us ua l l y boug ht t he pe r s ona l i nf or m a t i on of vi c t i m s f r om va r i ous onl i ne
pl a t f or m s . A c r i m i na l w hos e l a s t na m e w a s Z ha ng r e ve a l e d i n c our t t ha t he w or ke d a s
a “ g r e e n g r oc e r ” w ho boug ht 100,000 pi e c e s of i nf or m a t i on , a nd r e s ol d t he m t o t he
g a ngs , m a ki ng R M B 0.3 ( $0.04) of f e a c h c ont a c t pr ovi de d ( Z huha i X i a ngz hou D i s t r i c t
P e opl e ’ s C our t , G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e 2017) .
U s ua l l y , t he “ bos s e s ” w e r e T a i w a ne s e w ho of t e n l oc a t e d i n a not he r c ount r y f r om t he
20 t o 30 ot he r s w ho c a r r i e d out m os t of t he w or k. B ut t he y ke pt t a bs on e ve r y t hi ng
f r om be hi nd t he s c e ne s . T he s e c ond l e ve l w e r e t he T a i w a ne s e m a na ge r s a t t he s c e ne
w ho t ook c a r e of t he c r i m i na l s ’ ba s i c l i vi ng s , a nd e x t e r na l c ont a c t s ( Z huha i
I n t e r m e di a t e P e opl e ’ s C our t , G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e 2019b) .
T he t hi r d l e ve l c ons i s t e d of T a i w a ne s e w ho c om pi l e d “ w or ki ng m a t e r i a l s , ” s e t up t he
I n t e r ne t c onn e c t i ons , a nd ke pt a r e c or d of a l l t he m one y , a nd t i m e t a b l e s of t he w or ke r s .
T he “ w or ki ng m a t e r i a l s , ” e x pl a i ne d Y o ng qi n C he n, a s c a m m e r c onvi c t e d i n J i a ngm e n,
1 4
c ont a i ne d a va r i e t y of t ool s . T he c on a r t i s t s us e d not e books t o pr a c t i c e di a l og ue s , a nd
t a ke dow n vi c t i m s ’ i nf or m a t i on; t he y r e c i t e d l i ne s , a nd pr oc e dur e s i n s pe c i f i c
s c e na r i os f r om t he s c r i pt s ; t he y us e d ke y b oa r ds , a nd w a l ki e t a l ki e s t o f a l s i f y t he
ba c kgr ound noi s e of r e a l pol i c e s t a t i ons ; a nd t he y m a de not e s of e ve r y s uc c e s s f ul
ha ndof f f r om t he f i r s t s c a m m e r t o t he s e c ond on w hi t e boa r ds ( G ua ngdong H i g he r
P e opl e ’ s C our t 2019) .
T he “ a ut he nt i c ” doc um e nt s , s uc h a s t he e x t r a di t i on or de r one of t he s c a m m e r s t e x t e d
m e , boos t t he c r e di bi l i t y but a r e us ua l l y c ount e r f e i t s w i t h vi c t i m s ’ i nf or m a t i on
s upe r i m pos e d. F or i ns t a nc e , i n a 2016 s c a m c a s e i n J i a ngm e n, G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e ,
t he V i e t na m e s e pol i c e , i n c oope r a t i on w i t h C hi ne s e a ut hor i t i e s , pr ovi de d c opi e s of
f or g e d doc um e nt s c onf i s c a t e d on t he s c e ne , i nc l udi ng S ha ng ha i H ongkou P ubl i c
S e c ur i t y B ur e a u C onf i de nt i a l i t y C e r t i f i c a t e , a nd S ha ng ha i P e opl e ’ s P r oc ur a t or a t e
M a nda t or y A s s e t F r oz e n E xe c ut i on T e m pl a t e , a m ong ot he r s ( G ua ngdong H i g he r
P e opl e ’ s C our t 2019) .
T he f our t h l e ve l w a s di vi de d be t w e e n t he “ f r ont ,” a nd “ ba c k. ” T he he a d of t he f r ont
t e a m us ua l l y c a m e f r om m a i nl a nd C hi na . T he y r e c r ui t e d ne w e m pl oy e e s , t ook t he m t o
t he s pot s ove r s e a s , s m oot he d t he i nt e r a c t i ons be t w e e n t he di f f e r e nt l e ve l s , a nd g ot
30% of t he t ot a l m one y , m i nus c os t s ( Z huha i I n t e r m e di a t e P e opl e ’ s C our t , G ua ngdong
P r ovi nc e 2019b) .
1 5
O n t he “ ba c k ” s i de w e r e t he “ r a c e r s ” or “ c a r de a l e r s ” w ho m oni t or e d t he ba nk
a c c ount s i n r e a l - t i m e . A s s oon a s t he m one y w a s t r a ns f e r r e d, t he w oul d not i f y t he
r a c e r s t o w i t hdr a w a s f a s t a s pos s i bl e , a s Z ha ng, a pa r t - t i m e “ r a c e r ” c onvi c t e d i n
G ua ngz hou, e x pl a i ne d i n c our t doc um e nt s ( G ua ngz hou P a ny u D i s t r i c t P e opl e ’ s C our t ,
G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e 2017) .
F i na l l y , a t t he f i f t h a l s o f i na l l e ve l w e r e t he t hr e e t y p e s of l a w e nf or c e m e nt i m pos t e r s
w ho a c t ua l l y phone d t he vi c t i m s . T he “ f r ont l i ne ” a c t e d a s pol i c e of f i c e r s w ho w e r e
r e qui r e d t o di a l ove r 120 num be r s a da y , a c c or di ng t o M a o ( Z huha i X i a ngz hou
D i s t r i c t P e opl e ’ s C our t , G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e 2017) , a c r i m i na l c onvi c t e d i n Z huha i ,
w ho s a i d he e a r ne d a ba s e s a l a r y of R M B 5,000 ( $725) a m ont h —f or c om pa r i s on, t he
a ve r a ge m ont hl y s a l a r y i n m a j or c i t i e s of C hi na i s R M B 8,452 ( $1,228) ( Y u
2019) —pl us a 5 pe r c e nt c om m i s s i on.
I m pos t e r s di a l e d t he vi c t i m s ’ num be r s by de s k phone s , a nd us e d
voi c e - ove r - i nt e r ne t - pr ot oc ol a ppl i c a t i ons t o di s g ui s e t he out g oi ng num be r s a s be i ng
f r om a n of f i c i a l l oc a t i on —a pol i c e s t a t i on i n C hi na , t he C hi ne s e c ons ul a t e i n C hi c a go,
a nd s o f or t h ( Z huha i X i a ngz hou D i s t r i c t P e opl e ’ s C our t , G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e
2017) .
D ur i ng i ni t i a l c onve r s a t i ons , t he s c a m m e r s pr e t e nde d t o be f i l i ng r e por t s f or vi c t i m s
on y e l l ow pos t - i t not e s , a nd c ount e r f e i t r e por t f or m s . T he t y p i ng s ound t he vi c t i m s
1 6
he a r ove r t he phone , a c c or di ng t o Q i a ng L i a ng , a s c a m m e r c onvi c t e d i n J i a ngm e n,
G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e , i s a c t ua l l y f a ke t o m a ke t he m f e e l a s i f t he “ of f i c e r ” w e r e t r y i ng
t o he l p. I n s t e a d, t he y a r e f i l l i ng out a f or m , ha r ve s t i ng pe r s ona l i nf or m a t i on on t he
vi c t i m ’ s da i l y r out i ne , i nc om e , f a m i l y , a nd m os t i m por t a nt l y , ba nk a c c ount s
( G ua ngdong H i g he r P e opl e ’ s C our t 2019) .
I f t he vi c t i m s t a ke t he ba i t , t he y a r e pa s s e d t o t he “ s e c ond l i ne ,” a nd “ t hi r d l i ne ” w ho
pr e t e nd t o be s e ni or of f i c e r s , a nd pr os e c ut or s . T hos e w or ke r s a ns w e r be t w e e n 20 t o 30
c a l l s a da y . T he s e c ond , a nd t hi r d l i ne s don’ t ha ve a ba s e s a l a r y , but t y p i c a l l y r e c e i ve
8- 9% of t he t a ke ( Z huha i I n t e r m e di a t e P e opl e ’ s C our t , G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e
2019b) —w hi c h w oul d be $3,440- 3,870 i n m y c a s e .
W i t hi n t he r i g i d hi e r a r c hy , di f f e r e nt l e ve l s of s c a m m e r s m i g ht ne ve r know e a c h ot he r .
R uos ha n W u , a f i f t h- l e ve l , “ s e c ond l i ne ” s c a m m e r c onvi c t e d i n S i c hua n P r ovi nc e ,
onl y kne w hi s “ bos s ” w a s a s ki nny T a i w a ne s e f e m a l e ove r 50, 5 f e e t 3. “ I don ’ t know
i f t he r e ’ s a not he r bos s be hi nd he r , ” he t e s t i f i e d ( G ua ng ’ a n I n t e r m e di a t e P e opl e ’ s
C our t , S i c hua n P r ovi nc e 2019) .
M i ng c he ng Q i n, a l s o a “ s e c ond l i ne ” c a l l e r c onvi c t e d i n J i a ng m e n, di dn ’ t know w ha t
t r a ns pi r e d a f t e r he pa s s e d hi s vi c t i m s ove r t o t he t hi r d l i ne “ pr os e c ut or s . ” I n c our t
doc um e nt s , he e x pl a i ne d , “ … t he t w o of t he m w or ke d i n a s e pa r a t e r oom w e [ t he
ot he r s ] c oul dn ’ t e nt e r , s o I don’ t know w ha t ha ppe ne d ne x t . ” ( G ua ngdong H i g he r
1 7
P e opl e ’ s C our t 2019)
M os t g a ngs a r e ba s e d i n S out h or S out he a s t A s i a n c ount r i e s , s uc h a s V i e t na m
( G ua ngdong H i g he r P e opl e ’ s C our t 2019) , I n done s i a ( Z huha i X i a ngz hou D i s t r i c t
P e opl e ’ s C our t , G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e 2017) , M a l a y s i a ( Z huha i I n t e r m e di a t e P e opl e ’ s
C our t , G ua ngd o ng P r ov i nc e 2018 ) , C a m b odi a ( G ua ng ’ a n I n t e r m e d i a t e P e o pl e ’ s C our t ,
S i c hua n P r ovi nc e 2019) , a nd T ha i l a nd ( Z huha i I n t e r m e di a t e P e opl e ’ s C our t ,
G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e 2019a ) , but a f e w a r e i n E ur ope a n c ount r i e s i nc l udi ng S pa i n
( M ok 2016) , a nd T u r ke y ( G ua ngz hou I nt e r m e di a t e P e opl e ’ s C our t , G ua ngdong
P r ovi nc e 2019a ) . T he c r os s - bor de r c om m e r c i a l c r i m e s m a de i t di f f i c ul t f or l a w
e nf or c e m e nt t o de t e c t , a nd pr os e c ut e t he c r i m i na l s .
1 8
A t t r ac t i ve T a r ge t s
M os t pe opl e pr oba bl y r e s pond t o s c a m phone c a l l s w i t h a n e y e r ol l be f or e ha ngi ng up.
B ut C hi ne s e s t ude nt s s t udy i ng a br oa d a r e pa r t i c ul a r l y vul ne r a bl e t a r g e t s . N ot onl y a r e
t he y i s ol a t e d , a nd s t oc ke d w i t h c a s h f or t ui t i on, but t he y a r e a l s o a c c us t om e d t o
C hi na ’ s a ut hor i t a r i a n r ul e , a nd s us c e pt i bl e t o a ny o ne w ho pur por t s t o be f r om t he
g ove r nm e nt .
T he num be r of C hi ne s e s t ude nt s i n t he U .S . ha s s pi ke d f r om 127,628 i n 2009 t o
369,548 i n 2018 ( I n s t i t ut e of I n t e r na t i ona l E duc a t i on 2019) . I n t e r na t i ona l s t ude nt s
c ont r i but e d $45 bi l l i on t o t he U .S . e c onom y i n 2018 ( U ni t e d S t a t e s D e pa r t m e nt of
C om m e r c e 2019) . A m ong t he m , C hi na a c c ount s f or r oughl y a t hi r d of t he m one y ,
dw a r f i ng t ha t f r om ot he r c ount r i e s . T he a m ount c ont i nue s t o r i s e , e s t i m a t e d t o ha ve
be e n $13 bi l l i on i n 2017- 2018 ( R e a l i t y C he c k t e a m , B B C N e w s 2019) . W hi l e a l l
s t ude nt s a r e r e qui r e d t o t a ke onl i ne c our s e s a bout s e x ua l ha r a s s m e nt , a nd a l c ohol
a bus e , no s uc h t r a i ni ng on s c a m s i s r e qui r e d.
X ue ke Y i n, a c om pu t e r s c i e nc e gr a d ua t e s t ude nt a t W a s hi ngt on U ni ve r s i t y i n S t . L o ui s ,
f e l l f or a s c a m i n O c t obe r 2019. S he w a s a l one i n t he dor m doi ng hom e w or k w he n
s he r e c e i ve d a r obo- c a l l f r om t he “ C hi ne s e c ons ul a t e i n C hi c a go ” r e que s t i ng t ha t s he
c onne c t w i t h t he m t o pi c k up a pa c ka ge . S he r e s ponde d , a nd w a s s oon c onne c t e d t o a
pe r s on pur por t i ng t o be f r om t he S ha ng ha i pol i c e , t he n t o a s e ni or of f i c e r , a nd f i na l l y
t o a pr os e c ut or .
1 9
“ I di dn ’ t di a l a s i ng l e num be r t he w hol e t i m e . I w a s c onne c t e d , a nd c onne c t e d a g a i n
a nd a ga i n, ” s he ( Y i n 2019) r e c a l l e d. T he f i r s t s c a m m e r e ve n a s ke d he r t o c he c k i f t he
num be r w a s of f i c i a l one be l ongi ng t o t he C hi ne s e c ons ul a t e i n C hi c a go. I t w a s , s o s he
be l i e ve d e ve r y t hi ng t ha t c a m e a f t e r w a r d.
W he n Y i n pa ni c ke d a bout be i ng a “ s us pe c t , ” t he of f i c e r e m pha s i z e d s he w a s i n a “ di r e
s i t ua t i on ” be c a us e s he w oul d be de por t e d ba c k t o C hi na . H e s how e d he r
a ut he nt i c - l ooki ng doc um e nt s w i t h he r phot o I D , a r e d s t a m p s hi ni ng i n t he l ow e r r i ght
c or ne r .
“ T he y t ouc he d m y s or e poi nt . I c a n ’ t i m a g i ne be i ng de por t e d w i t hout f i ni s hi ng g r a d
s c hool , ” Y i n ( 2019) r e c a l l e d. “ T he n he t ol d m e he c oul d he l p m e . I c oul d c oope r a t e
w i t h t he i nve s t i g a t i ons i n a not he r w a y w i t hout g oi ng ba c k …T he ke y of s c a m i s
m one y , [ but ] t he y don’ t m e nt i on m one y a t f i r s t . ”
Y i n f ound he r s e l f dr ow ni ng i n a s e a of l i e s t he s c a m m e r s ke pt dum pi ng on he r . W he n
t he r e que s t f or m one y f i na l l y a r r i ve d, s he w a s e x ha us t e d , a nd ope r a t i ng “ w i t hout a ny
c om m on s e ns e . ” ( Y i n 2019)
Y i n t r a ns f e r r e d R M B 300,000 ( $43,354) t o a ba nk a c c ount pr ovi de d by t he
“ pr os e c ut or , ” but t he s c a m m e r s s oon a s ke d f or a not he r R M B 500,000 ( $72,257) . S he
2 0
pool e d a bout R M B 80,000 ( $1 1 ,561) f r om t hr e e onl i ne l e ndi ng pl a t f or m s . W he n Y i n
be gge d he r r oom m a t e f or m one y on t he t hi r d e ve ni ng , he r r oom m a t e r e c ogni z e d i t a s
a s c a m i m m e di a t e l y , a nd pr e ve nt e d he r f r om s e ndi ng ove r t he s e c ond t r a nc he .
“ M y pa r e nt s w e r e s o f a r a w a y f r om m e t ha t [ w e c oul dn ’ t ] c om m uni c a t e w e l l . M y
r oom m a t e w a s r i ght be s i de m e , a nd i t w a s e a s i e r f or he r t o w a ke m e up,” Y i n ( 2019)
c onc l ude d.
H a nl i n G a o, 26, w a s a vi s i t i ng s c hol a r s t udy i ng t r a ns por t a t i on e ngi ne e r i ng a t t he
U ni ve r s i t y of W a s hi ng t on i n S e a t t l e , w he n he g ot a c a l l . A w om a n s pe a ki ng i n E ng l i s h
s a i d hi s S oc i a l S e c ur i t y N um be r ha d be e n us e d t o c om m i t a c r i m e . T o c l e a r hi s na m e ,
he ha d t o c oope r a t e . T i m e w a s l i m i t e d , a nd G a o ’ s m one y w oul d be f r oz e n w i t hi n
t hi r t y m i nut e s ( G a o 2019b) . U nde r a s e ni or of f i c e r ’ s g ui da nc e , G a o r ode a bi c y c l e t o
t he ne a r e s t T a r g e t t o t a ke out m one y f or da i l y us e . T he of f i c i a l r e m i nde d G a o t ha t t he
c a s e w a s unde r i nve s t i g a t i on , a nd he s houl d not di s c us s i t w i t h a ny o ne .
“ [ H e ] i s ol a t e d m e f r om s e e ki ng he l p f r om t he out s i de , [ a nd] c r e a t e d a t e ns i on on
pur pos e t o l e a ve l i t t l e t i m e f or m y br a i n t o pr oc e s s , ” G a o ( 2019a ) w r ot e i n hi s di a r y .
“ H e w a s he l pi ng m e , hi s a dvi c e w a s s i nc e r e , a nd e f f e c t i ve , a nd he ’ s ve r y pa t i e nt . ”
G a o e ve nt ua l l y g r e w s us pi c i ous w he n t he of f i c e r a s ke d hi m t o us e t he a ppr oa c hi ng
H a l l ow e e n hol i da y a s a n e x c us e t o buy g i f t c a r ds . “ W hy i s he s o ni c e t o m e ? I s he a
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pol i c e ? ” ( G a o 2019a ) H e f i gur e d i t out be f or e t r a ns f e r r i ng a ny m one y .
I n hi nds i g ht , G a o ( 2019a ) r e a l i z e s t ha t he t r e a t s e ve r y o ne w ho s pe a ks E ngl i s h a s a
l a ngua ge t e a c he r , ba r e l y g ue s s i ng t he i r m ot i ve s . H e a l s o i s f r i ght e ne d by a l l t he
“ pol i c e , gov e r n m e nt , c r i m e i nv ol v e m e n t , i nve s t i ga t i on , a nd m on e y f r oz e n ” r e f e r e nc e s .
A s a f or e i gne r , he f e e l s “ i nf e r i or ” w he n t a l ki ng w i t h l oc a l s . I f s om e t hi ng s e e m s odd,
he of t e n bl a m e s i t on hi s ow n poor c om pr e he ns i on.
C ha r l e s Q i a n, a P hD s t ude nt i n e l e c t r i c a l e ngi ne e r i ng a t U S C , be l i e ve d t he s c a m m e r s
a t f i r s t be c a us e t he y kne w hi s i nf or m a t i on, i nc l udi ng t ha t he di dn ’ t pa y t a x e s onc e
( Q i a n 2019) . R i t a f r om U S C , w ho a s ke d t ha t he r l a s t na m e not be us e d, w a s w a i t i ng
f or he r unde r g r a dua t e di pl om a , a nd t r a ns c r i pt s w he n s he r e c e i ve d a c a l l , t e l l i ng he r
t ha t he r pe r s ona l i nf or m a t i on ha d be e n l e a ke d ( R i t a 2019) . H a ox i n S hi , a g r a dua t e
e ngi ne e r i ng s t ude nt a t U S C , w a s t e r r i f i e d w he n “ C hi ne s e pol i c e ” t ol d he r s he w oul d
be e x t r a di t e d t o C hi na i f s he di dn ’ t c oope r a t e ( S hi 2019) .
A l l t hr e e f i gur e d out t he s c a m be f or e pa r t i ng w i t h a ny m one y . Q i a n g r e w s us pi c i ous
w he n t he s c a m m e r a s ke d hi m not t o c ont a c t a ny o ne ( Q i a n 2019) . R i t a di s c ove r e d t he
s c a m m e r ’ s i nf or m a t i on w a s i nc or r e c t , a nd hung up ( R i t a 2019) . S hi r e c a l l e d a l e c t ur e
on s c a m m i ng a t t he C hi ne s e c ons ul a t e , a nd r e a l i z e d i t w a s ha ppe ni ng t o he r ( S hi
2019) .
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Y e t m a ny ot he r s f e l l i nt o t he pi t . D ur i ng t he 2018 f a l l s e m e s t e r , 17 U S C s t ude nt s w e r e
s c a m m e d w i t h a n a ve r a ge l os s of $3,500, a nd a m a x i m um of $75,000 ( t ha t vi c t i m i s
C hi ne s e ) ( U S C D e pa r t m e nt of P ubl i c S a f e t y 2018) . F r om a c a de m i c y e a r 2016- 2017 t o
2018- 2019 , B os t on U ni ve r s i t y ha d a n i nc r e a s e f r om 3 t o 14 f r a uds ( B a r l ow 2018) .
T he pol i c e de pa r t m e nt a t t he U ni ve r s i t y of W i s c ons i n- M a di s on r e ve a l e d t ha t 34 f r a ud
vi c t i m s l os t m one y f r om 2016 t o 2019, w i t h one s ur r e nde r i ng a s m uc h a s $128,000
( U W - M a di s on P ol i c e D e pa r t m e nt 2019) . D a t a f r om s e ve n uni ve r s i t i e s a c r os s t he U .S .
s how s t ha t m os t of t he c a s e s t a r g e t C hi ne s e s t ude nt s .
O f f i c i a l s a t uni ve r s i t i e s c onc e de t he y ha ve no w a y of unde r s t a ndi ng e x a c t l y how
m a ny pe opl e m i g ht a c t ua l l y be c om e e ns na r e d i n t he s e s c he m e s . “ M a ny t i m e s I t hi nk
t he s t ude nt s don’ t r e por t t he m t o us , ” s a i d D a vi d C a r l i s l e ( 2019) , a s s i s t a nt c hi e f of
U S C D e pa r t m e nt of P ubl i c S a f e t y . “ S om e t i m e s t he y ’ r e e m ba r r a s s e d, s om e t i m e s t he y
ups e t t he i r f a m i l y , s o t he r e c oul d be a t l e a s t a f e w c a s e s t ha t a r e ne ve r r e por t e d t o us . ”
2 3
“C at c h - 22 ”
W he n vi c t i m s do s e e k he l p f r om t he pol i c e , t he y of t e n g e t s t uc k i n a C a t c h- 22, t hr us t
i nt o a l e g a l g r a y z one w he r e no one i s w i l l i ng t o t a ke t he i r c a s e .
A s s um i ng t ha t t he U .S . pol i c e w oul dn ’ t pa y a t t e nt i on t o a c a s e c om m i t t e d by C hi ne s e ,
a nd t a r g e t i ng a C hi ne s e s t ude nt , Y i n, f r om W a s hi ng t on U ni ve r s i t y , a s ke d he r pa r e nt s
t o f i l e a r e por t i n C hi na , f or w hi c h t he r e w a s no f ol l ow up ( Y i n 2019) . W he n m y
pa r e nt s r e por t e d t o t he C hi ne s e pol i c e , t he y w e r e t ol d t ha t s i nc e t he c r i m e t ook pl a c e
i n t he U .S ., I s houl d a s k t he pol i c e t he r e f or he l p.
I w a s t r a ppe d i n a c r a z y , no- w i n w or l d of ba nks , a nd l a w e nf or c e m e nt i n di f f e r e nt
c ount r i e s .
W i t h t he s l i m D P S r e por t s a ndw i c he d i n m y not e book, I w e nt t o t he L A P D S out hw e s t
S t a t i on s e ve r a l t i m e s . A l t houg h t he m e di a r e l a t i ons s e c t i on de c l i ne d m y i nt e r vi e w
r e que s t s , D e t . C hr i s t i ne R y de r ( 2019) , w ho w or ks on f r a ud i nve s t i g a t i ons , a nd ha ndl e s
m y c a s e , t ol d m e —a s a vi c t i m not a j our na l i s m s t ude nt —t ha t i f t he m one y ha d be e n
t r a ns f e r r e d t o a ba nk i n C hi na , a nd t he c r i m i na l s w e r e not i n t he U .S ., t he
i nve s t i g a t i on w a s be y o nd t he i r j ur i s di c t i on.
“ L A P D c a n ’ t c a t c h t he c r i m i na l s i n H ong K ong , ” s he ( R y de r 2019) s a i d.
2 4
I n A ugus t 2019, I c a l l e d e i ght s e pa r a t e num be r s f or t he H ong K ong pol i c e , w he n
pr ot e s t s i n t he c i t y w e r e a t t he i r pe a k, but c oul dn ’ t g e t t hr ough. I a s ke d a C hi ne s e
f r i e nd t he r e f or he l p. T he pol i c e t ol d hi m t ha t be c a us e t he c a s e t ook pl a c e i n t he U .S . ,
a nd t he vi c t i m w a s a l s o t he r e , I s houl d a s k L A P D f or he l p .
I c ont a c t e d t he C hi ne s e c ons ul a t e i n L os A nge l e s . T he y ha d m e f i l l out a f or m . T he
c a s e , I w a s t ol d, w oul d be r e f e r r e d t o “ r e l e va nt pol i c e ” ( O f f i c e of C ons ul a r P r ot e c t i on
a nd O ve r s e a s C hi ne s e A f f a i r s , C ons ul a t e G e ne r a l of t he P . R .C hi na i n L o s A nge l e s
2019) . T he m e di a de pa r t m e nt r e pl i e d by e m a i l t ha t phone s c a m s a r e “ r a m pa nt . ” T he
not e a l s o s a i d t hi s w a s a n i m por t a nt i s s ue t o t he C hi ne s e g ove r nm e nt , a nd t ha t t he be s t
pr e ve nt i on m e t hod i s t o r a i s e t he a w a r e ne s s ( P r e s s & P ubl i c D i pl om a c y O f f i c e ,
C ons ul a t e G e ne r a l of t he P . R .C hi na i n L os A nge l e s 2019) .
I n e a r l y J a nua r y 2020, w hi l e hom e f or w i nt e r br e a k, I vi s i t e d t he H S B C ba nk br a nc h
a t Q ue e n ’ s R oa d, C e nt r a l H ong K ong, w he r e t he s c a m m e r us e d t o w i t hdr a w m y
m one y . A l t houg h B a nk of A m e r i c a s a i d i t ha d not i f i e d t he br a nc h a bout t he m a t t e r ,
W a l l a c e C ha n, a c us t om e r s e r vi c e of f i c e r a t H S B C , c l a i m e d t he y ha d ne ve r he a r d of
m y c a s e . A l s o, c i t i ng c onf i de nt i a l i t y , H S B C w oul dn ’ t t e l l m e a ny t hi ng a bout t he
pe r s on w ho w i t hdr e w m y m one y unl e s s t he H ong K ong pol i c e r e qui r e d i t ( C ha n
2020) .
W he n I w e nt t o t he K ow l oon C i t y D i s t r i c t H e a dqua r t e r s a nd H ung H om D i vi s i ona l
2 5
P ol i c e S t a t i on, a n of f i c e r e x pl a i ne d w hy t he H ong K ong pol i c e w oul dn ’ t t a ke m y
c a s e .
H e pul l e d out a pi e c e of pa pe r , a nd dr e w t hr e e c i r c l e s on i t , t w o bi g one s , a nd a s m a l l
one . B i g C i r c l e N o.1 w a s t he m a i nl a nd C hi na j ur i s di c t i on , a nd t he s m a l l c i r c l e w a s
H ong K ong; t he t w o s nug gl e d t og e t he r , he e x pl a i ne d, but t he y don’ t ove r l a p. B i g
C i r c l e N o.2 w a s t he U .S . j ur i s di c t i on, t ot a l l y s e pa r a t e f r om t hos e i n H ong K ong . S i nc e
m y c a s e t ook pl a c e i n t he U .S ., t he U .S . pol i c e don’ t ha ve t he r i g ht t o r e que s t H ong
K ong pol i c e c a t c h t he s us pe c t . T he y s houl d be t he one s t o a s k t he H S B C br a nc h f or
i nf or m a t i on w hoe ve r t ook out m y m one y .
A t m y w i t ’ s e nd, I c ont a c t e d J a m e s G ol l a z , a pr i va t e de t e c t i ve i n L os A ng e l e s . H e
di dn ’ t t a ke m y c a s e , e i t he r , but t ol d ( G ol l a z 2019) m e i n a n e m a i l , “ T he I n ve s t i ga t i on
r e s pons i bl y i s w he r e t he c r i m e oc c ur r e d, w i t h L A P D . L A P D s houl d i nve s t i g a t e , a nd
e x ha us t a l l l e a ds i n t he U ni t e d S t a t e s , a nd f ol l ow a ny i nve s t i g a t i ve l e a ds t ha t m a y l e a d
t o H ong K ong , a nd a s k t he m f or a s s i s t a nc e i n t he i r i nve s t i g a t i on. ”
2 6
D on ’ t G e t F ool e d A gai n
“ O ur bi g ge s t g oa l i s pr e ve nt i on, ” s a i d T o ny T a m ba s c i a ( 2019) , U S C O f f i c e of
I n t e r na t i ona l S e r vi c e s E xe c ut i ve D i r e c t or . “ T he be s t w e c a n do i s t o c r e a t e m or e
a w a r e ne s s . ”
U S C hol ds a n or i e nt a t i on f or ne w s t ude nt s e ve r y A ugus t , be f or e t he s t a r t of t he f a l l
s e m e s t e r , t o i nf or m t he m a b out s c a m s . I ha d t o m i s s i t — m y c l a s s e s ha d be gu n i n J une ,
a nd I w a s booke d s ol i d w i t h s c hool w or k w he n t he s e s s i ons w e r e he l d. I l ooke d
t hr ough t he e m a i l s U S C ha d s e nt m e a bout t he pr ogr a m , a nd now he r e di d i t m e nt i on
s c a m or f r a ud be f or e m y s um m e r s e m e s t e r .
T a m ba s c i a ( 2019) e x pl a i ne d D P S i s t r y i ng t o s ha r e m or e s pe c i f i c i nf or m a t i on , a nd
de t a i l s of di f f e r e nt c a s e s w i t hout i de nt i f y i ng t he s t ude nt s i nvol ve d.
N ot a bl y , on t he D P S s c a m a l e r t w e b pa ge , be s i de s t he E ngl i s h w a r ni ngs , t he r e a r e t w o
ve r s i ons of “ B e A w a r e of S c a m s ” w r i t t e n i n T r a di t i ona l M a nda r i n , a nd S i m pl i f i e d
C hi ne s e t o e duc a t e C hi ne s e s t ude nt s ( U S C D e pa r t m e nt of P ubl i c S a f e t y 2019) .
A c c or di ng t o D P S ’ C om m uni t y R e l a t i ons M a na ge r E l i z a be t h C a r r e ño- D i a z
( C a r r e ño- D i a z 2019b) , D P S hol ds a m ont hl y m e e t i ng w i t h r e pr e s e nt a t i ve s f r om
di f f e r e nt i nt e r na t i ona l s t ude nt a s s oc i a t i ons , i nc l udi ng t he C hi ne s e S t ude nt s a nd
S c hol a r s A s s oc i a t i on ( C S S A ) .
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O n N ov . 14, 2019, I a t t e nde d “ C S S A X U S C D P S : D P S B O B A N I G H T , ” a n e ve nt
he l d onc e a s e m e s t e r . D P S of f i c e r s s ha r e d s a f e t y t i ps w i t h m or e t ha n 100 C hi ne s e
s t ude nt s w ho c a m e m os t l y f or a f r e e di nne r , a nd a c up of boba m i l k t e a .
W he n O f f i c e r M or i c e J a c ks on g a ve e x a m pl e s of f r a uds , he s how e d how a pos s i bl e
r obo- c a l l s c a m i n E ngl i s h s ounde d.
“ T hi s i s a phone c a l l s uppos e d t o c om e f r om t he U .S . T r e a s ur y f or m e , a nd I g ue s s
I ’ m a f e de r a l c r i m i na l t o t he m , ” he ( J a c ks on 2019) e x pl a i ne d a s s t ude nt s c huc kl e d ,
a nd l ooke d a t e a c h ot he r i n di s be l i e f , e y e s w i de ne d. “ T he y a l l pr e t t y m uc h f or t he
m os t pa r t f ol l ow t he s a m e s t r uc t ur e : t o e nt i c e f e a r . ”
H e pa us e d f or a w hi l e , w a i t i ng f or t he g i ggl e s t o qui e t , a nd s a i d ( J a c ks on 2019) , “ Y o u
g uy s w a nt t o he a r one m or e ? ”
“ N o, ” r e pl i e d t he s t ude nt s , l a ughi ng .
“ Y o u g uy s know w ha t t he y s ound l i ke t he n? S o w he n y o u g e t t hos e c a l l s , j us t ha ng
up…A not he r t y p e of s c a m i s s om e body w i l l s a y t he y ha ve y o ur f a m i l y m e m be r , a nd
t he y ne e d y o ur m one y …” ( J a c ks on 2019)
2 8
S t ude nt s a ga i n bur s t i nt o l a ught e r .
C om pa r e d w i t h t he uni ve r s i t i e s ’ pr e c a ut i ons , t he a nt i - f r a ud de pa r t m e nt s i n m a j or
c i t i e s s uc h a s H ong K ong , S ha ng ha i , a nd G ua ngz hou a r e c om ba t i ng t he c r i m e i n a
m or e a c t i ve m a nne r by i nt e r ve ni ng i n t he ong oi ng c a l l s .
S i nc e J ul y 20, 2017, t he A nt i - D e c e pt i on C oor di na t i on C e nt r e i n H ong K ong ha s
ope r a t e d a 24- hour i nqui r y hot l i ne t o ha ndl e s us pi c i ous c a s e s . T he uni t i nt e r ve ne d i n
ove r 200 s c a m c a l l s i n i t s f i r s t t hr e e m ont hs , a nd t hw a r t e d pa y m e nt s t ot a l i ng H K $78
m i l l i on ( $10 m i l l i on) , a s r e por t e d i n a S out h C hi na M or ni ng P os t a r t i c l e ( L e ung
2017) .
T he G ua ngz hou C e nt e r F or C om ba t i ng T e l e c om m uni c a t i on F r a ud a nd C y b e r C r i m e
ke e ps i m pr ovi ng i t s i nt e r ve nt i on m e t hods . I t not onl y i de nt i f i e s , a nd i nt e r c e pt s
ove r s e a s voi c e - ba s e d s c a m c a l l s , a nd s c a m m e s s a ge s ( s om e i m pos t e r s ha ve s us pi c i ous
num be r s , I P s , a nd e ve n s a m e di r e c t or i e s w i t h e a c h ot he r ) , but a l s o c oope r a t e s w i t h t op
ne t w or k t e c hnol ogy c om pa ni e s t o e s t a bl i s h e a r l y - w a r ni ng da t a m ode l s ( Z he ng 2019) .
A c c or di ng t o C hi na N e w s S e r vi c e , f r om J a nua r y t o O c t obe r i n 2019, t he G ua ngz hou
pol i c e s ol ve d a bout 4,400 phone de c e pt i on c a s e s , a nd s uc c e s s f ul l y pe r s ua de d ove r
240,000 pot e nt i a l vi c t i m s f r om l os i ng R M B 0.5bi l l i on ( $72.5 m i l l i on) a l t og e t he r
( C he ng 2019) .
2 9
A P s yc h ol ogi c al T o l l
I n t he da y s a f t e r I r e a l i z e d I ha d be e n dupe d, I f e l l i nt o a de e p a by s s . M y f a m i l y ha d t o
c om e up w i t h a not he r $43,000 t o g e t m e t hr ough s c hool . I f e l t s o g ui l t y t ha t I r e f us e d
t o s pe nd e ve n t he t w o dol l a r s f or t he c l ot he s dr y e r , a nd hung m y l a undr y out t o dr y
i ns t e a d. I l a y i n be d a l l da y . I bi ng e d on K or e a n T V s how s . I w i ndow - s hoppe d, g a z i ng
a t ba gs , a nd c l ot he s I now c oul dn ’ t e ve n dr e a m of pur c ha s i ng.
A t t he C hi ne s e M i d- A ut um n F e s t i va l i n m i d- S e pt e m be r , w he n e ve r y o ne c e l e br a t e d by
e a t i ng m oonc a ke s , I or de r e d a c he a pe r m i ni a t ur e m oonc a ke , s m a l l e noug h f or a c hi l d
t o de vour i n one bi t e . I a t e i t i n t he t i ni e s t ni bbl e s , m a ki ng i t l a s t f or 20 m i nut e s .
F i na l l y , a s I pr e pa r e d f or a ne w s e m e s t e r , I m a na ge d t o j oke a bout m y ni g ht m a r e w i t h
A m e r i c a n f r i e nds .
I t houg ht I ha d w e a t he r e d t he c r i s i s . B ut I ha dn ’ t .
W he n S a r a h S c hr e i be r , a c ouns e l or a t U S C E nge m a nn S t ude nt H e a l t h C e nt e r , pus he d
m e t o l ook ba c k a t t he f r a ud, m y l i ps w obbl e d , a nd I ha d t o f i ght ba c k t e a r s .
S c hr e i be r ( 2019) t ol d m e t ha t e m ot i ona l s uppor t f or t he vi c t i m s i s i m por t a nt a f t e r t he y
r e por t t he c a s e t o t he pol i c e . “ I t ’ s not y o ur f a ul t , ” s he ( S c hr e i be r 2019) s a i d t o m e .
“ D on ’ t bl a m e y o ur s e l f . ”
3 0
O t he r vi c t i m s f ound i t di f f i c ul t t o m ove f or w a r d a s w e l l . T w o vi c t i m s , one s t udy i ng a t
N or t hw e s t e r n U ni ve r s i t y , a nd a not he r a t t he U ni ve r s i t y of T o r ont o, de c l i ne d m y
r e que s t s f or a n i nt e r vi e w , c l a i m i ng t ha t t he y w oul d r a t he r ne ve r t hi nk a bout i t a ga i n.
E l a i ne C he n f r om U S C C S S A , a f r i e nd of t he N or t hw e s t e r n vi c t i m , t ol d m e t ha t s he
s uf f e r e d f r om t he de pr e s s i on , a nd s t r ug gl e s t o t a l k a bout i t now ( C he n 2019) .
J of f e r y W a ng , a U ni ve r s i t y of C a l i f or ni a , B e r ke l e y , l a w s t ude nt , i s a f r i e nd of t he
vi c t i m i n T o r ont o. “ H e c l os e s hi s m i nd now …I f e e l t ha t he i s ba dl y hur t .
( I n t e r vi e w i ng hi m now ) i s l i ke r e m ovi ng t he s c a r , ” he ( W a ng 2019) s a i d.
A c c or di ng t o W a ng ( W a ng 2019) , t he vi c t i m , a f or m e r F uda n U ni ve r s i t y
unde r g r a d ua t e , w a s s o e m ba r r a s s e d t o a s k f or t he l os t R M B 500,000 ( $72,801) t ha t he
di dn ’ t e ve n t e l l hi s m ot he r f or a f e w da y s , a nd t houg ht a bout t a ki ng out a l oa n. H i s
f r i e nds a s ke d hi m t o s e e a ps y c h i a t r i s t , but he de m ur r e d.
X ue ke Y i n di dn ’ t s l e e p w e l l f or da y s a f t e r t he s c a m . N ow , s he c ur s e s e ve r y s c a m c a l l
s he r e c e i ve s . S he f e e l s a s ha m e d be c a us e s he s t udi e s c om put e r s c i e nc e but f e l l f or
s om e t hi ng “ t ha t ’ s not t e c hnol ogi c a l l y s ophi s t i c a t e d, but m or e a bout ps y c h ol og y ” ( Y i n
2019) .
I now f i nd i t ha r d t o t r us t l a w e nf or c e m e nt t ha n I us e d t o. A f e w da y s be f or e t he 2020
3 1
ne w y e a r , m y m ot he r r e m i nde d m e of a dr e a m I ha d t ol d he r —w hi c h I ne a r l y
f or g ot — m ont hs a f t e r t he s c a m .
“ Y o u s a i d y o u dr e a m e d of t he f a ke pol i c e ba ngi ng a t y o ur door , a nd t r y i ng t o t a ke y o u
a w a y , ” s he s a i d. “ Y o u ’ r e s c a r e d t o de a t h but c a n ’ t w a ke up. N o one i s by y o ur s i de .
Y o u ’ r e a l l a l one i n a n e m pt y r oom , ha unt e d by t he i r voi c e s , a nd t he e ve r l a s t i ng ba ng,
ba ng, ba ng ….”
3 2
R e f e r e n c e s
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R ul i ng of t he F i r s t I n s t a nc e on F r a ud] , C hua n 16 X i ng C hu N o.2. S e pt e m be r 26.
ht t p: / / da t a .c our t .g ov . c n/ pa g e s / w s D e t a i l .ht m l ? doc i d= f 3e 1e a c a - a e db- 4432- 87a 9- a a e 400
271c c f & ke y w or d= % E 7% 94% B 5% E 4% B F % A 1% E 8% A F % 88% E 9% A A % 97% 20%
E 5% 86% 92% E 5% 85% 85% E 5% 85% A C % E 5% A E % 89
G ua ngdong H i g he r P e opl e ’ s C our t . 2019. 农启彬、陈永钦诈骗二审刑事裁定书
[ N ong Q i bi n a nd C he n Y o ng qi n C r i m i na l R ul i ng of t he F i r s t I n s t a nc e on F r a ud] , Y u e
X i ng Z hong N o. 1073. N ove m be r 21.
ht t p: / / w e ns hu.c our t .g ov . c n/ w e bs i t e / w e ns hu/ 181 1 07A N F Z 0B X S K 4/ i nde x .ht m l ? d oc I d
= 8c 10e 03f a 6dd42e 1a 8c 6a 82a 00a 3b405
G ua ngz hou I n t e r m e di a t e P e opl e ’ s C our t , G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e . 2019a . 吴甲、李某杰
诈骗二审刑事裁定书 [ W u J i a a nd L i X X J i e C r i m i na l R ul i ng of t he S e c ond I n s t a nc e
on F r a ud] , Y u e 01 X i ng Z hong N o. 909. A ugus t 21.
ht t p: / / w e ns hu.c our t .g ov . c n/ w e bs i t e / w e ns hu/ 181 1 07A N F Z 0B X S K 4/ i nde x .ht m l ? d oc I d
3 3
= 2be e 52dd5a 804f 328e 51a a b001 1 3d829
G ua ngz hou I n t e r m e di a t e P e opl e ’ s C our t , G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e . 2019b. 林某章、曾某
国诈骗二审刑事裁定书 [ L i n X X X Z ha ng a nd Z e ng X X X G uo C r i m i na l R ul i ng of
t he S e c ond I n s t a nc e on F r a ud] , Y u e 01 X i ng Z hong N o. 659. J une 3.
ht t p: / / w e ns hu.c our t .g ov . c n/ w e bs i t e / w e ns hu/ 181 1 07A N F Z 0B X S K 4/ i nde x .ht m l ? d oc I d
= 32a 06a 0388dc 4bdf 9942a a 5f 00f 42a 15
G ua ngz hou P a ny u D i s t r i c t P e opl e ’ s C our t , G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e . 2017. 张某甲诈骗
一审刑事判决书 [ Z ha ng X X J i a C r i m i na l R ul i ng of t he F i r s t I ns t a nc e on F r a ud] ,
Y u e 01 1 3 X i ng C hu N o. 2166. A ugus t 25.
ht t p: / / w e ns hu.c our t .g ov . c n/ w e bs i t e / w e ns hu/ 181 1 07A N F Z 0B X S K 4/ i nde x .ht m l ? d oc I d
= 71dd7d6d43b34922ba 5ba 7da 008f 33a 8
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ht t p: / / w e ns hu.c our t .g ov . c n/ w e bs i t e / w e ns hu/ 181 1 07A N F Z 0B X S K 4/ i nde x .ht m l ? d oc I d
= df 7a a e c 15f e b4e 96a 71 1 a a 680144da 4f
3 5
Z huha i I n t e r m e di a t e P e opl e ’ s C our t , G ua ngdong P r ovi nc e . 2019b. 陈岗诈骗一审刑
事判决书 [ C he n G a ng C r i m i na l R ul i ng of t he F i r s t I n s t a nc e on F r a ud] , Y u e 04 X i ng
C hu N o. 3. M a y 8.
ht t p: / / w e ns hu.c our t .g ov . c n/ w e bs i t e / w e ns hu/ 181 1 07A N F Z 0B X S K 4/ i nde x .ht m l ? d oc I d
= 149c 89db515743438f 5e a a 4700d3f d3e
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ht t p: / / w e ns hu.c our t .g ov . c n/ w e bs i t e / w e ns hu/ 181 1 07A N F Z 0B X S K 4/ i nde x .ht m l ? d oc I d
= a 68a 29f f 28844a b89da 0a 9c 601 1 2f 621
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骗一审刑事判决书 [ M a o X X a nd C he n X X C r i m i na l R ul i ng of t he F i r s t I n s t a nc e on
F r a ud] , Y u e 0402 X i ng C hu N o. 47. J ul y 17.
ht t p: / / w e ns hu.c our t .g ov . c n/ w e bs i t e / w e ns hu/ 181 1 07A N F Z 0B X S K 4/ i nde x .ht m l ? d oc I d
= c 0e 227f c f a 804c 02b0e da 7b300e c 3123

Abstract (if available)

Abstract This paper explores how cross-border phone scammers swindle Chinese students in the U.S. out of tens of thousands of dollars and inflict lasting emotional harm. Behind these thefts are criminal syndicates who run huge, well-organized operation with multiple tiers working out of different countries. By deploying well-scripted tactics, they prey on students' fears—frozen bank accounts, extradition to China, years in prison, shame—to gain the upper hand in a psychological war game. Chinese students in the U.S. make for enticing targets. They are in unfamiliar surroundings and often socially isolated. Most of all, they are loaded with cash they have brought over to pay hefty university tuition fees. Though American universities have come to rely on Chinese students, who now account for close to a third of all tuition dollars collected, they do little to protect them. Law enforcement is also behind the curve. The scams are carried out overseas, but the victims are in the U.S., allowing authorities in both countries to claim, conveniently, it's beyond their jurisdiction. The scars these scams leave behind are painful and slow to heal.

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Asset Metadata

Creator Liang, Xinlu (author)

Core Title A psywar over the phone

School Annenberg School for Communication

Degree Master of Arts

Degree Program Specialized Journalism

Publication Date 04/22/2020

Defense Date 04/22/2020

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag Chinese students,Crime,cross-border,OAI-PMH Harvest,phone scam,psywar

Language English

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

Advisor Kahn, Gabriel (committee chair), Schoofs, Mark (committee member), Winston, Diane (committee member)

Creator Email cindyliang0917@gmail.com,xinlulia@usc.edu

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c89-288586

Unique identifier UC11675007

Identifier etd-LiangXinlu-8307.pdf (filename),usctheses-c89-288586 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier etd-LiangXinlu-8307.pdf

Dmrecord 288586

Document Type Thesis

Rights Liang, Xinlu

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the a...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 2810, 3434 South Grand Avenue, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90089-2810, USA