The FBI has released a new safety bulletin warning of cybercriminals who impersonate members of the Chinese government and target Chinese citizens living in the United States. These fraudsters typically masquerade as law enforcement officers or prosecutors from the People’s Republic of China and tell their victims that they are suspected of financial crimes. They go on to threaten the individuals with arrest or violence if they do not pay a sum of money.
In order to create a façade of credibility, the criminals use the Government of the PRC, which has received widespread publicity, to persecute and promote the repatriation of US-based individuals. Communication is usually initiated through phone calls or messenger apps, with the attackers often using fake numbers to represent themselves as employees of the Chinese Public Security Ministry or the Chinese Consulate in the United States. Some scammers even show their victims fake orders to bolster the credibility of their accusations.
The FBI is advising people to be cautious when receiving accusations of criminal activity from another country, as phone numbers can be falsified to look like they are coming from state institutions. The bureau is urging the public to report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities immediately.
Source: https://www.ic3.gov/media/y2023/psa230410