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Over 1,300 Arrested in ‘Tea Leaves’ CHINA Online Dating Scam
World Record For Romance Scammer Arrests!
Gangs used chat apps, hot models, and herbal infusions to entrap lovelorn men.
Police in the southern province of Guangdong have busted huge rings of online dating scammers who posed as attractive women to defraud men into buying pricey tea and other products, Guangzhou Daily reported Friday.
Local police announced at a briefing on Thursday that they had cracked 13 gangs and apprehended 1,310 suspects. Each gang could approach up to 1,500 victims per month, as their members would seduce many men simultaneously.
“These scam gangs [succeed] because they capture the psychology of many men: When facing beautiful women, men lose their judgement, and feel too shy to refuse,” a Guangdong police officer said at the briefing.
According to the police, the gangs used models’ photographs and the People Nearby function on WeChat, China’s most popular messaging app, to lure victims into chatting. After months of building up trust, they would swindle their “boyfriends” by using fictional family tragedies as ruses to promote tea, wine, or investment in precious metals through a platform controlled by the group.
One long con involved homegrown tea. Police explained that the gangs had developed a 60-day formula for fraud: The scam artists would spend 15 days casually chatting, five days pushing the relationship into a romance, and 20 days showing the boyfriend that they had gone to take care of an ailing grandfather in their hometown, where they were also learning how to produce tea. The gang even hired models in hot pants to pose for photos and videos in southeastern China’s Yunnan province, one of the country’s well-known tea-producing regions.
The scam would reach its climax in the last 20 days, when the boyfriend would be repeatedly persuaded to buy expensive tea leaves. By the time the target realized he’d been had, he would get blocked.
According to Guangzhou Daily, most of the con artists were millennials, while others were “middle-aged uncles who liked to pick at their feet.” Some networks sold tea, while others used tobacco, alcohol, health products, or even oil paintings as their bait of choice.
Hundreds of people have been arrested for taking part in online dating scams in China. In 2017, police in eastern China’s Zhejiang province busted an operation that had used photos of beautiful women to lure victims into lotteries controlled by their ring. Another case in northeastern China’s Liaoning province in 2016 saw 500 suspects arrested.
SOURCE: http://gzdaily.dayoo.com/pc/html/2018-06/01/content_9_1.htm?v=FD
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Statement About Victim Blaming
SCARS Institute articles examine different aspects of the scam victim experience, as well as those who may have been secondary victims. This work focuses on understanding victimization through the science of victimology, including common psychological and behavioral responses. The purpose is to help victims and survivors understand why these crimes occurred, reduce shame and self-blame, strengthen recovery programs and victim opportunities, and lower the risk of future victimization.
At times, these discussions may sound uncomfortable, overwhelming, or may be mistaken for blame. They are not. Scam victims are never blamed. Our goal is to explain the mechanisms of deception and the human responses that scammers exploit, and the processes that occur after the scam ends, so victims can better understand what happened to them and why it felt convincing at the time, and what the path looks like going forward.
Articles that address the psychology, neurology, physiology, and other characteristics of scams and the victim experience recognize that all people share cognitive and emotional traits that can be manipulated under the right conditions. These characteristics are not flaws. They are normal human functions that criminals deliberately exploit. Victims typically have little awareness of these mechanisms while a scam is unfolding and a very limited ability to control them. Awareness often comes only after the harm has occurred.
By explaining these processes, these articles help victims make sense of their experiences, understand common post-scam reactions, and identify ways to protect themselves moving forward. This knowledge supports recovery by replacing confusion and self-blame with clarity, context, and self-compassion.
Additional educational material on these topics is available at ScamPsychology.org – ScamsNOW.com and other SCARS Institute websites.
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The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
Criminal should be locked up in a jail cell rest of their life.
One woman who talk to me fro irinmorgan@gmail.com and mobile number +233507331737 tried to scam me many times . She said lives in Accra Ghana and ask me US 300 to get acces to some money and i never believed her. I think she is Jelena Jensen
That’s so awesome that they arrested that many people