Police have warned of a new wave of scams targeting the Chinese community, particularly international students, following reports of losses exceeding $400,000.
The scams, described as “authority scams,” involve offenders posing as Chinese police or other officials and falsely claiming that victims are under investigation or facing arrest.
Victims are told they are linked to serious crimes and are pressured into transferring money or cryptocurrency to avoid detention, with many cases involving contact through messaging apps such as WeChat.
In Sydney’s inner city, south, and eastern suburbs, authorities have reported a sharp rise in complaints linked to these fraudulent schemes.
In one case, a 22-year-old woman reportedly lost more than $400,000 after scammers claimed she was connected to a “known terrorist” and threatened her with arrest, along with warnings that her family could also be detained unless she paid.
Cybercrime Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Matthew Craft said scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to pressure victims into acting quickly and making payments.
Police have urged anyone who receives such suspicious contact to report it immediately to the National Anti-Scam Centre and avoid transferring any money or personal information.
