Press "PandaGuides" above to follow us!
In a peculiar turn of events, two men from Yiliang County, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province, have been detained for allegedly scamming overseas fraudsters out of 1,800 yuan (approximately $250). The incident has sparked widespread debate among Chinese netizens about the nature of justice and the boundaries of the law.
According to local police, Zhou and Yuan, both unemployed, devised a plan to turn the tables on potential scammers. They joined online chat groups known for posting suspicious high-paying job offers and pretended to fall for a scheme promising executive positions with annual salaries of 200,000 to 300,000 yuan.
Recognizing the telltale signs of a typical telecom fraud, the duo decided to "play along" with the scammers. They fabricated stories about needing money for flights, accommodation, and luggage, successfully convincing the fraudsters to transfer 1,800 yuan as "travel expenses."
However, their clever ruse backfired when police discovered their activities during a routine fraud investigation. Despite their intentions, Zhou and Yuan were detained for five and seven days respectively, and the illegally obtained funds were confiscated.
The case has ignited a heated discussion on Chinese social media platforms. Many netizens argue that the men's actions were harmless and even praiseworthy, suggesting they taught the scammers a valuable lesson. One user commented, "They should be rewarded, not punished!"
Others maintain that the law must be applied equally, regardless of the target. "Fraud is fraud, no matter who the victim is," another netizen stated.
Responding to the controversy, a spokesperson for the Zhaotong police told Red Star News that Zhou and Yuan had clear intent to defraud and successfully carried out their scheme. "Even if it's a 'reverse scam,' it should be punished according to law," the official stated.
