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A 35-year-old woman in Yichang, Hubei, fell victim to an elaborate scam after arranging to meet a client at a hotel. Instead of a customer, two men arrived, claiming to be police officers and accusing her of illegal activities. Intimidated and fearing arrest, the woman handed over all the cash she had—7,800 yuan—only to later realize she had been deceived. The two impostors were later arrested and sentenced to nine months in prison.
On a night in July 2024, the woman, identified as Chai, had scheduled a meeting with a client at a local hotel. Around 10 p.m., a knock on the door signaled the expected arrival. However, instead of her client, a man quickly entered the room, flashing what appeared to be a police officer's badge before swiftly tucking it away.
This man, identified as Mao, claimed to be an officer conducting an inspection. Moments later, his accomplice, Yang, entered the room, reinforcing the claim.
Mao sternly informed Chai that she was suspected of engaging in illegal activities and needed to cooperate with their investigation. Panicked, Chai denied any wrongdoing, but the men aggressively ordered her to kneel in the corner while they searched her phone.
Upon finding chat records that appeared to confirm their suspicions, they declared that the cash in her possession—7,800 yuan—was illicit earnings and must be confiscated. Mao assured her that since it was her “first offense” and she was being cooperative, they would not detain her, but the money would be taken as a penalty. Relieved to avoid arrest, Chai reluctantly handed over the money.
After the two men left, Chai began to doubt their legitimacy. She wondered why real police officers would demand cash on the spot instead of following legal procedures. Her suspicions growing, she decided to report the incident to the authorities.
Local police launched an investigation, reviewing surveillance footage and conducting inquiries. Their efforts soon led to the identification and arrest of Mao and Yang, both of whom had traveled from Jingmen to Yichang to carry out their scheme.
During interrogation, authorities discovered that Mao’s so-called police badge was a counterfeit, consisting of a fake cover with his actual work ID inside. The handcuffs they used to intimidate their victims were nothing more than novelty items purchased online.
The court ruled that their actions constituted the crime of impersonating law enforcement officers and engaging in fraud. According to China’s Criminal Law, Article 279, those who impersonate government officials for fraudulent purposes can face up to three years in prison. When impersonating police officers, penalties are even more severe. However, after evaluating the case, the court determined that while the crime was serious, it did not meet the criteria for a harsher sentence. Consequently, both men were sentenced to nine months in prison and ordered to return the stolen 7,800 yuan to Chai.
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