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"They asked me to do genetic testing, and after the test, they said that I might be prone to stroke, so I believed it, bought more than a dozen boxes of medicines, and when the health doctor said it was all a drink, I panicked." Ms. Sun, a Shanghai resident, could not hide her excitement when she mentioned the experience of being deceived. Like her, there are more than 800 elderly people who have been tricked into buying drinks that can "cure diseases".
On February 10, a reporter from upstream news (e-mail: [email protected]) learned from the Pudong Branch of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau that the gangs that targeted pension money mostly used the "warm" card and free gifts as a pretext to attract the elderly to "listen to lectures" and guide them to buy products. At present, 4 fraud gangs have been destroyed, 91 criminal suspects have been arrested, and the amount involved has reached 12.5 million yuan.
▲ The police seized a large number of products and found that their registration information was mostly food or solid beverages. Photo credit: Shanghai police
Not long ago, Ms. Xie of Shanghai's Pudong New Area saw an advertising card in her home mailbox, which said that she could send multi-purpose handcarts and walking shoes for the elderly over 70 years old for free. Here, Ms. Xie saw many elderly people who were about the same age as her.
Subsequently, after Ms. Xie of "Huaxia Gene" listened to a "genetic testing" course, she was taken to a small room. Professor Zhang, the main teacher of genetic testing, analyzed the physical conditions found through genetic testing for Ms. Xie, and informed Ms. Xie that she would be cured by purchasing their genetic health care drugs, and this medicine can also treat bowel cancer, and long-term use is very good for the body. After paying the deposit of 100 yuan, Manager Xu sent Ms. Xie home who believed that the letter was real, and then, in Manager Xu's car, he paid the remaining 23,900 yuan through the POS machine pull card and got six boxes of medicines. Ms. Xie took it home to find that the drugs had already passed the "effective date".
▲ Health care product fraud gangs mostly in the form of small advertisements, attracting the elderly to be deceived. Photo credit: Shanghai police
Shortly after Ms. Xie reported the case to the police, the Puxing Road Police Station of the Pudong Branch of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau received a similar police report, and Ms. Sun spent 52,000 yuan to buy 12 boxes of similar health care products and found that she was deceived. "This is clearly a typical scam routine against the elderly." Zhang Binbin, commander of the criminal investigation brigade of the Waigaoqiao Public Security Department of the Pudong Public Security Bureau, said that after locking up the suspects and grasping the relevant criminal evidence, at about 23:00 on January 12, the special case team divided into multiple roads and arrested 91 gang members suspected of fraud, such as Jia XX, Zhuang XX, and Zhuang XX, suspected of fraud, in Minhang, Songjiang, and other areas of Shanghai, and destroyed 4 fraud gangs under the guise of "gene companies" and "cultural communication co., LTD."
▲ It is said that the "miracle medicine" that can cure diseases is only vinegar products. Photo credit: Shanghai police
According to the arrest video obtained by the upstream news reporter, at the suspect's residence and office location, the police found a large number of suspects recorded the list of deceived elderly people and health care products including old vinegar paste, sea buckthorn goji berry vinegar, leaf powder, etc. When seizing illegal evidence, the police handling the case looked at the information of the deceived elderly and the bank card used by the suspect for deposits, and said to a suspect: "You have this money, I really dare not touch it, it is hot, it is ill-gotten wealth." ”
Xiang Tianyang, deputy captain of the trial and case handling brigade of the Waigaoqiao Public Security Department of the Pudong Public Security Bureau, said that the health care products sold by the health care product fraud gang to the elderly are actually registered with most of the registration information, including chocolate and solid drinks, and the cost is basically about 100 yuan, while the price sold by the fraud gang to the elderly is more than 100 times the cost.
▲ The police seized a large amount of information about the elderly's family at the suspect's residence. Photo credit: Shanghai police
After preliminary review, it has been clear that since 2021, these gangs have lured victims to participate in so-called "health propaganda", "genetic testing", and "expert free clinics" by distributing "small cards" and telemarketing, and fabricated and exaggerated the victim's condition and the efficacy of health care products such as "oral liquid" and "Shanxi old vinegar", causing the victims to purchase health care products or foods that are significantly higher than the market price under the psychology of fear. According to the preliminary sorting out of the capital accounts involved in the four criminal gangs, the amount involved was as high as more than 12.5 million yuan, involving more than 800 victims. At present, 91 criminal suspects, including Jia Moumou, have been arrested. The case is under further review.
Upstream journalist Shi Tingting