Tsinghua University graduate studying in London was defrauded for nearly 45 days and was induced to purchase virtual currency for transfer

According to Hongxing News, the individual involved in the incident of "Tsinghua graduates studying at University College London (UCL) being scammed" revealed that he was scammed for nearly 45 days. On the day he arrived in the UK and checked into his dormitory, he received a call from a number displayed as "Embassy," claiming that his phone number had sent a large number of harassment and fraud messages, and transferred him to so-called "cyber police." The caller accurately reported his personal information, requested him to download video software, and displayed materials such as police identification, arrest warrants, and confessions.

Several "cyber police" bombarded him with information for more than three hours while he was still adjusting to the time difference and was physically and mentally exhausted, causing him to lose his judgment. Subsequently, the so-called "Interpol" led him to mistakenly believe he was assisting in an investigation into an international money laundering case and made him sign a so-called confidentiality document. For the first two weeks, they continued to strengthen control, requiring him to maintain a phone call 24 hours a day and turn on video for online monitoring, while also restricting his social interactions under the guise of investigation confidentiality.

They ultimately induced him to purchase digital currency and transfer it to a designated account, and even made him deceive his family into transferring money for the so-called case, claiming it would be returned after the case was closed. He was also coerced into downloading foreign encrypted chat software to register an account for purchasing virtual currency. After returning to his home country, he discovered that during the period he was out of contact, the scammers had used his credit card to purchase tickets to other destinations. He reminded the public to pay more attention to anti-fraud campaigns, as scammers exploit time differences and information gaps to set traps.