Elderly man opens his mouth to buy 1.8 million yuan in gold, shop assistant immediately calls the police...

Recently, an elderly customer entered a jewelry store in Shunyi, claiming he wanted to buy 1.8 million yuan worth of gold for online investment. The “big client’s” unusual behavior raised suspicion among the staff, who quickly judged that he was likely a victim of telecom fraud and immediately called the police for help.

After receiving the call, police officers arrived at the scene to investigate. They identified themselves and verified the situation with the elderly man, asking about his travel plans and the reason for purchasing gold. Upon investigation, the man was identified as Mr. Li, in his 60s, from Gua’an. He was there with his daughter to buy gold. At first, Mr. Li was confused and unaware that he had been scammed.

Officer Su Hui patiently explained the risks of the scam, warning him on the spot: “If you buy the gold today, the other party will definitely send you instructions to deliver the gold to a designated location or arrange someone to pick it up. Once the scammers take the gold, this huge amount of money will be gone forever.”

Mr. Li told the police that he was buying gold as an investment in stocks, intending to invest his funds through the gold purchase on what he believed was a stock investment platform.

The police then carefully comforted Mr. Li, explaining typical online investment scams targeting the elderly, dissecting the scam tactics step by step, and guiding him to recognize the scam’s true nature.

Officer Su Hui pointed to the elderly man’s phone and further explained: “Do you have an investment app on your phone? The scammers use high-interest returns as bait to lower your guard. The profits shown on the platform are just virtual numbers and cannot be withdrawn. In simple terms, this investment platform is a fake website built by scammers, and all the data is controlled by them. They will tell you how much money is in your account, and that’s what will be displayed.”

After hearing the detailed explanation, Mr. Li finally realized the seriousness of the situation and voluntarily handed his phone to the police for inspection. They successfully found the scam-related investment app on his device.

Mr. Li told the police that, according to the scammers’ instructions, after purchasing the gold, someone claiming to be a staff member would come to pick it up. After collecting the gold, he would connect with the so-called customer service of the scam app, which would then inform him that his investment deposit was successful.

The police explained the proper investment process: “You need to remember, legitimate stock investments require registering an account with a licensed securities company, linking your personal bank card, depositing funds into your bank account, and then transferring to a legitimate securities account. Investing in gold in this way is a typical telecom scam.”

According to the investigation, Mr. Li was targeted by an online investment scam. The scammers impersonated professional investment experts, using promises of “guaranteed profit” and “high returns” to induce victims to transfer money or buy gold and mail it to designated addresses. Some victims, after mailing gold, had additional scam funds transferred into their accounts, encouraging them to continue buying and mailing gold, effectively turning victims into money laundering tools.

In fact, the money deposited into the scam app was just virtual numbers controlled by the scammers. Fortunately, thanks to the vigilance of the jewelry store staff and the police’s timely intervention, Mr. Li was protected from telecom fraud, saving his 1.8 million yuan.

Common scam processes:

Order-boosting scam + mailing gold for “withdrawal”
Scammers post part-time job ads online. When victims inquire, they are sent tasks such as downloading an app, watching videos, or commenting. They are initially paid small amounts, then told that due to insufficient platform points, they must buy gold and send it to a specified location to complete the withdrawal.

Investment scam + mailing gold for “recharge”
Scammers pose as investment experts, promoting “guaranteed profit” and “high returns,” inducing victims to transfer money for investments or encouraging them to buy gold and mail it to a designated address. They claim that once the gold is received, it will be doubled and credited to the investment account immediately.

Receiving funds + buying gold + mailing gold
Some victims mail gold, after which scammers transfer other scam funds into their accounts, encouraging continued gold purchases and mailing. Victims not only lose money but also become tools for money laundering.

Police tips:

Stay alert and refuse temptation
Don’t be lured by promises of high returns. Any online investment promising “insider information,” “high profits,” or “guaranteed returns” in stocks or gold is a scam. Be cautious of high-interest temptations, avoid greed for small profits, do not trust strangers over the phone, and avoid participating in virtual currency trading or hype.

Choose legitimate financial institutions
Buy and sell gold through banks, licensed jewelry stores, or authorized financial institutions. Say no to unofficial channels like “niche apps” or “live stream exclusive links.”

Protect your accounts and privacy
Do not lend or share your ID cards or bank cards, and do not use your accounts to withdraw money for others.

Report suspicious situations promptly
If you are scammed or encounter suspicious circumstances, protect your evidence and call 110 or 96110 immediately.