Scammers Posing as Chinese Police Defraud International Students in Sydney

New South Wales Police have reported a significant surge in scams targeting international students in Sydney, where criminals impersonating Chinese police officers and government officials have stolen nearly $800,000 from four victims in a single month. The perpetrators contact victims via phone or messaging apps like WeChat, falsely accusing them of serious crimes such as terrorism links or money laundering. They intimidate victims with threats of arrest and warrants unless immediate payments are made via bank transfer or cryptocurrency. In one severe case, a 22-year-old woman lost $400,000 after being told her phone number was linked to a wanted terrorist. Another victim, a 23-year-old man, lost $301,000 after being instructed to delete social media records to cooperate with a fake investigation. Detective Superintendent Matthew Craft warned that these threats are fabricated and urged recipients to hang up and report such contacts. The scams primarily target Chinese nationals in inner-city, southern, and eastern Sydney, exploiting fear and authority to coerce quick financial compliance.