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In a bizarre case that has shocked netizens, Zhang Changhe, a 40-year-old man from Xi’an, set up a fake “police station” at the city’s busy railway station, where he exploited unsuspecting university students and other individuals. This elaborate scam, which began in 2015, involved fake police officers, fraudulent promises of employment, and money taken from vulnerable students eager for work experience.
Zhang, who had little formal education, took a highly unconventional entrepreneurial route by opening a fake police station in Xi’an. His operation was audacious and convincing, drawing in mostly young, naïve university students who were looking for ways to gain work experience. These students were recruited under the belief that they were joining a real undercover police force, tasked with apprehending thieves at the bustling train station.
Promising students a sense of pride and purpose, Zhang convinced them that they were helping to fight crime by working with his "police force." For several months, the students worked alongside Zhang’s team, patrolling the train station and supposedly helping to apprehend criminals. They were given small payments for their efforts, but the true nature of the scam was hidden from them until one critical moment.
The scam began to unravel when one of the students noticed something strange: after catching a thief, Zhang and his team would simply release the criminal without following the proper police procedures. When questioned, Zhang calmly explained that this was “standard procedure” and reassured the students with a small bonus for their efforts, paying them a few hundred yuan as a "catching thieves" incentive.
At first, the students were confused but reluctant to question Zhang’s authority, as he had carefully built an atmosphere of trust. However, the inconsistencies in his actions eventually led some of the students to doubt the legitimacy of the operation. Despite these doubts, the small financial rewards and Zhang’s reassurances kept them from taking further action.
The situation took a dramatic turn when Zhang and his assistant, Zhao Xiujuan—who was known to the students as the “deputy captain”—suddenly disappeared, leaving the students bewildered and confused. The fake operation came to a sudden halt, and the students were left questioning what had happened.
The scandal came to light when Xiao Wang, a young man who had been introduced to the fake police team by his mother, Zhao Xiujuan, reported his mother missing to the Xi’an Railway Station police. Xiao Wang was shocked to learn that he had been deceived into believing he was a real undercover police officer. His mother had convinced him to pay thousands of yuan to join the fake force, despite having no prior police training or background.
Upon further investigation, the police discovered that Xiao Wang, along with other students, had been deceived by Zhao and Zhang into paying large sums for the privilege of working as undercover officers. Xiao Wang’s story revealed the full scale of the scam: he had paid several thousand yuan in “fees” to join the fake police force, including a registration fee and a deposit for his “work badge.” His mother had promised him a steady job and salary after completing his training, but after he paid the money, she disappeared without a trace.
As police began speaking with more victims, the details of the scam grew clearer. Two other women who had been recruited by Zhao and Zhang explained how they, too, had paid money to become members of the fake police force. These recruits were told that they needed to pay fees for registration, uniforms, and work badges, all while being promised a salary once they were officially part of the team. The recruits worked alongside other “officers,” patrolling the station and assisting in catching criminals, although the entire operation was a fraud.
In total, many students paid anywhere between 3,000 to 10,000 yuan to “join” the fake police team. They were told they would receive a small salary during the probationary period, and more once they became permanent members. But unbeknownst to them, the criminals they apprehended were always released, and the stolen goods were never properly handled. The entire system was built on deception, and the recruits were nothing more than unwitting accomplices in Zhang and Zhao’s fraudulent scheme.
Zhang and Zhao’s scam was simple but effective. They preyed on the desperation of young people seeking work experience, providing them with uniforms and fake police identification to lend an air of legitimacy to their operation. The recruits, eager to gain work experience and make some money, were eager to join what seemed like a real police force. They were even told that they could earn a salary once they were fully “trained,” making the whole setup seem like a golden opportunity.
The scam started to unravel when a few recruits began to notice inconsistencies and reported their suspicions to the police. Authorities began to investigate the growing number of complaints about the fake police operation, and eventually, using information from Xiao Wang and other victims, they were able to track down and arrest Zhao Xiujuan. Upon her arrest, she confessed that she and Zhang had been running the scam for months, convincing young students to pay for jobs that didn’t exist.
Zhang was arrested shortly afterward. It was revealed that he had been a familiar figure at Xi’an Railway Station for over 20 years, working various jobs such as baggage handling and selling goods. Despite his limited education, Zhang used his knowledge of the station and the desperation of job-seeking students to exploit them.
Zhang and Zhao were both charged with fraud, and their scam became one of the most shocking and bizarre cases of deception in recent years. The authorities dismantled the fake operation, and Zhang and Zhao faced criminal charges.
The case quickly went viral on social media, with netizens expressing shock at the audacity of the scam. Many criticized the students for being so gullible, while others sympathized with their plight. “How could they be so easily deceived?” one user commented. “This is a wake-up call for all students to be cautious about job offers that sound too good to be true.”
Others expressed sympathy for the victims, pointing out the difficulties many young people face when searching for work. “These students just wanted to gain experience and ended up being scammed,” another user wrote. “It’s a harsh reminder of how some people will take advantage of anyone, no matter how innocent.”
In the end, Zhang Changhe and Zhao Xiujuan’s fake police station was shut down, but the emotional and financial toll on the victims remained. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant, especially when it comes to job offers that seem too good to be true. This case serves as a stark reminder of the need for caution in an increasingly deceptive world.
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