On the 40th day of her “detention,” she was asked to pay over 2 million yuan in bail.

A student studying abroad shares her experience of being scammed by impersonators claiming to be from China’s “public security and judicial system.”

Recently, in a conference room at the Jiading Branch of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, I met with 19-year-old student Xiao Wang. She was targeted in Singapore by someone claiming to be a police officer from Shanghai, who subjected her to remote monitoring under the guise of “detention” for over 40 days, nearly leading her to lose more than 2 million yuan. After undergoing a long process of psychological recovery, she has decided to share her story with the public to raise awareness.

In June, while studying at a university in Singapore, Xiao Wang received a call that disrupted her peaceful life abroad.

“You registered a SIM card that has sent multiple fraudulent messages and has been reported by several people. It’s about to be deactivated,” said someone claiming to be from an information company, revealing her personal information with alarming accuracy and accusing her of fraud.

Faced with this unexpected news, Xiao Wang instinctively tried to clear her name. The caller prompted her to consider that if she didn’t apply for that SIM card, her identity might have been stolen, and he urged her to report it to the police, offering to connect her to the Shanghai authorities.

Before she could process the situation, the call was transferred to a police hotline in Shanghai. A self-identified officer informed her that her identity had not only been used to obtain that SIM card but also to open a bank account, and that account had been found in the home of a disgraced bank president, involved in multiple large money laundering schemes.

Caught up in the rapidly unfolding narrative, Xiao Wang had little time to doubt the caller’s identity. “Given the severity of your involvement in the case, if you don’t cooperate, police will be sent to your address in Singapore to arrest you!” the caller warned, raising his voice.

At that moment, Xiao Wang was alone in her Singapore apartment, feeling scared and vulnerable, fully believing what she was being told.

“The case is still under investigation, and we won’t send police to Singapore for your arrest just yet. However, we need to keep the details confidential, so we will have to put you under remote ‘detention,'” the caller assured her after applying intense pressure.

Feeling lost and overwhelmed, Xiao Wang followed the instructions to download an overseas messaging app and remove all her other social media applications. From then on, Xiao Wang was required to activate the new app so the caller could remotely control her phone, including keeping her camera on 24/7 to monitor her every move. “This is a confidential case; you mustn’t tell anyone, or you could face additional charges,” came the harsh reminders over her phone.

While attending classes, she had to keep the call feature active on the app, limiting her interactions with others. The caller further manipulated her thoughts, insisting, “You can’t tell your family about this. Would you want them to worry?” He guided her to text her mom through WeChat, declining video calls to keep the facade alive.

Under constant surveillance, Xiao Wang lost contact with almost everyone, becoming a remote-controlled “prisoner,” glued to her phone day and night.

On the 40th day of her “detention,” she received alarming news that the “Attorney General” had decided to detain all “criminal suspects” back in China. After begging for clemency, she was offered a way out: pay a bail of 390,000 SGD (approximately 2.13 million yuan) to be released.

To help her raise the necessary funds, the caller provided a forged acceptance letter from a university exchange program, suggesting she use it to persuade her parents.

“Mom, I received an acceptance letter for a university exchange program, but I need to submit proof of assets, 390,000 SGD, to finalize it. Please transfer the money to my card,” she messaged her mother, as per the caller’s instructions, along with a photo of the fake acceptance letter.

Her mother, eager to support her daughter’s education, was also troubled by the amount, especially with an impending deadline of August 30. She immediately contacted several friends in Singapore, hoping they could help her gather the money.

After receiving the message, a lawyer friend called: “That acceptance letter seems suspicious; it looks fake.” Acting on her friend’s advice, she asked Xiao Wang to forward an official email from the school for verification. However, this triggered a negative reaction from her daughter.

Frustrated, Mrs. Li tried to reassure Xiao Wang while discreetly investigating further. Upon contacting the school directly, she discovered that the entire situation was a scam. Concerned for her daughter’s safety, the couple immediately booked the next flight to Singapore.

“Daughter, your father and I are coming to Singapore today!” Although they tried to keep their visit a secret, Xiao Wang’s unaware grandmother notified her via WeChat.

Once she received the news, the fake police shifted tactics, instructing Xiao Wang to book the next flight back to China. When Mr. and Mrs. Li arrived at Xiao Wang’s apartment, they found no sign of their daughter, only a handwritten letter from her requesting bail.

Desperate, the couple quickly contacted local authorities. The Singapore police, during their investigation, alerted the Chinese embassy in Singapore, where officials quickly assessed that Xiao Wang was likely the victim of a scam impersonating public authorities. They activated a rapid response mechanism to coordinate with the police in both countries.

Upon receiving the report, the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ministry of Public Security in China instructed the Shanghai police to follow up. The Shanghai police acted swiftly, and airport officers safely received Xiao Wang as she arrived.

However, after enduring long periods of threats and intimidation from the scammers, Xiao Wang was wary of the police. It wasn’t until she spoke with her parents that she agreed to ride back home to Jiading in a police vehicle.

The Shanghai Anti-Fraud Center, along with the Jiading police, dispatched officers to Xiao Wang’s home to assist. Confronted with Xiao Wang’s skepticism and fears, Officer Lu Hang avoided a direct confrontation. Instead, he patiently guided her through the details of her ordeal, explaining the police process and clarifying how online and phone-based legal procedures, especially international ones, are not conducted in the way she had been led to believe.

After more than an hour of patient explanation, Xiao Wang finally understood that she had fallen into a “fraud trap.”

“Using accusations of criminal activity to instill fear, blocking communication with the outside world, and relentless indoctrination are classic tactics of impersonation scams,” Officer Lu remarked. He emphasized that international students studying alone are particularly vulnerable to such scams, highlighting the necessity to remain vigilant, stay connected with trusted friends and family, and avoid isolation.

Authorities also urge international students and their families to prioritize personal privacy, be alert to anti-fraud awareness campaigns, refrain from believing everything, avoid transferring money hastily, and promptly communicate with trusted individuals or educational institutions when issues arise. Remember the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ 24-hour emergency hotline: 12308.