Scammers are targeting international students in the Philadelphia area by impersonating Chinese police officers and telling their victims to pay money in order to avoid legal trouble, officials said.
The FBI Philadelphia issued a warning about the scam in a press release on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.
Officials said they’ve seen an uptick in the scam since 2022. The scam involves fraudsters impersonating Chinese police officers while targeting Chinese students attending universities in the Philadelphia area.
Typically, the scammers have called their victims with numbers that appeared to be associated with a mobile phone service provider, a large retailer, delivery service or the Chinese Embassy/Consulate. The scammers then tell their victims that their personal information is linked to a victim of a financial fraud investigation.
The scammers then transfer the victims to what they claim to be a Chinese police department that is investigating them. A scammer posing as a Chinese police officer then tells the victims about the alleged crime, often threatening to arrest them if they don’t return to China to face a trial.
The scammers then tell the victims to consent to 24/7 video and audio monitoring and to not discuss the details of the case, conduct internet searches or report their daily activities.
The scammers then tell the victims to send a large amount of money to a Chinese bank account through a wire transfer or crypto currency exchange to prove their innocence or to post bail to avoid returning to China.
“These scams leave real and lasting harm that extends far beyond a financial loss,” Wayne A. Jacobs, special agent in charge of FBI Philadelphia, said. “This is why we continue to work closely with our partners across academia, law enforcement, and the public to identify victims and connect them with the resources they need. If you or someone you know has been impacted by a scam like this, please reach out. Pursuing justice and victim support remains our priority, and we will continue working to hold offenders accountable and ensure those harmed receive the assistance they need.”
Any victims of the scam should report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center or their local FBI field office.
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