Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice: Beware of fake "taste tasting card" scams; criminal gangs used virtual currency to settle illicit funds.

Odaily Odaily reports that the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice has issued a warning about a new type of telecom fraud scheme emerging in many parts of China recently, using counterfeit supermarket "taste cards" as bait. These groups distribute fake "taste cards" offline, enticing victims to scan QR codes to join so-called "benefit groups," and then committing fraudulent activities such as transferring money for rebates. Police reports indicate that multiple cases have been solved in Shandong and other locations, with several suspects arrested. Investigations show that the criminals use overseas communication software to contact their superiors and settle their proceeds through virtual currency, making the scheme highly covert. The Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice reminds the public to be vigilant, not to scan QR codes from unknown sources, and not to disclose personal information to unfamiliar platforms to avoid financial losses.