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Q: How many of you foreigners have unwittingly been used in a scam?
When my brother first came to China, he was asked to work for a "trading company" in CBD, Despite his lack of experience in that field he was told that he had the "right look" and that his gray hair "was a big plus". He was offered 30,000 rmb a month to attend meetings that were conducted in Chinese, and sit there in a suit and tie and "take notes" and occasionally lean over and ask questions to his translator and nod his head from time to time. He did what was asked of him without question because the company looked very legit and because he had a foreclosure pending back in the States. Eventually he told me about it and I asked him to secretly record one of the meetings which he did. With the help of my staff we learned that he was being used as an actor playing the role of a multi-millionaire "Angel" investor. He worked there two months and reluctantly gave up the great job. Have others had this or similar experiences as well?
Something very similar happened to me in 2010 but I caught on to it when I saw phony magazine articles being used with my photo in them! I bailed in time and they freaked out and offered me more money to stay for "just one more meeting". I later met a girl who was once the receptionist for that company and she spilled the beans after a few drinks. This country has more scammers than the ocean has fish!
Man I wish someone offered me that kind of money! Seriously I heard some horror stories but I never much believed them until now. Can you tell us the names or web sites of the companies?
I was once paid 5,000 rmb to meet and "evaluate" the English and academic records of 15 students of a company called World Academic Consultants in Dawanglu. It was a total of 3 hours work and although they told me I was going to do this once every week, I never heard from them again after they paid me that day.
I found out a month later that they told the students I was a member of the "admissions board" of Princeton University. The only reason I found out is because one of the students I had "evaluated" saw me eating at KFC through the window and came in to say "Hello" and ask about his "application". I sent an email to the registrar at Princeton and almost two months later I got a reply basically saying thanks but it happens so often they can't keep up with all.
I'll bet all the Ivy League schools are represented by phony agents and naive foreigners like myself who get recruited unknowingly. I still feel guilty for the role I played and kick myself in the ass for being so dumb to fall for that.
Geezer:
It looks like this scam is still alive and well. I just read this 30 minutes ago...
Man I wish I was used in some scams like these to get money....maybe my moral values are lower but I'd gladly sit in on mettings pretending to be someone I'm not for 30,000rmb!!
I've never been involved in a scam and never got scammed for the most part. I've certainly paid too much for certain items though. When I first came to China I bought a pair of shoes and when I went to pay for it the price was double what was advertised. They said it was because the price shown was for only one shoe and obviously I wanted two shoes right? Can't believe I feel for that and paid double the price lol.
I just saw an ad posted yesterday at BFSU that said "Foreigner actors needed - No Chinese Language Requirement - 25,000 yuan per month!" I'm going to check it out tomorrow. The address is near Tuanjiehue. Will keep you guys posted.
Frank... send me a PM with the contact info. I will gladly work there and take all the notes you want and give them to you after they pay me! Do you think they really pay or just use you for a month?????
Two years ago I was asked to play the role of an inventor at a "technology fair" sponsored by the Ministry of Technology but when I was coached to lie to people (potential investors), I backed out of the deal. They had offered me 20,000 yuan for just one weekend. I was supposed t be the inventor of the Vectrix electric motor scooter from America. These guys have no honor nor shame and I suspect their balls are made of brass and bigger than grapefruit.
I had a guy answer my ad for voicework once and he invited me to meet up. Our meeting was in a toilet store and he did some strange fake TV interview with me for five minutes. Then he wanted me to send him pictures of me at work and such, I told him without money upfront he'd get nothing.
Hey Frank - Did you go to that "Actor" interview? Was it legit or another scam? Fill us in on the details - just curious to know. THX
This is what I copied yesterday from an ad posted on the student bulletin board at BCLU in Wudaokou... (translated) "If you know foreigners over 40 years old who look like businessmen and are willing to cooperate with our clever operation, we will pay you 100 yuan to introduce them to us. Tell them they can earn 10 yuan per week, and ask them to pay you 10%. They must not speak or understand Chinese. Call Li Peng at 139**766886"
I think its safe to say this scam has been successful or it would not still be around. They sure have some nerve to play this game.
It looks like this scam is still alive and well. I just read this 30 minutes ago...
