The Chinese Embassy in the UK issued a notice on the 23rd, pointing out that recently Chinese citizens have frequently suffered losses and been deceived due to private currency exchanges. Typical cases include 'honey traps,' and the embassy hopes that Chinese compatriots in the UK can learn from these cases, enhance precautions, and ensure safety.
In the case mentioned, a certain student became friends with a female user through a social media platform and subsequently communicated via a real-time chat application. A few days later, the other party invited the student to meet offline for a 'date.' However, after confirming the student's departure, the woman revealed her intention to engage in prostitution. Simultaneously, someone posing as a 'hotel' staff member contacted the student via phone. After the student refused and hung up, the number sent threatening, intimidating text messages, along with gruesome pictures and videos.
The student quickly blocked the involved individuals on social media and phone numbers, fortunately avoiding further losses.
The embassy warns that 'honey trap' scams have become frequent in the UK recently. Scammers often use excuses such as dating, buying second-hand goods, or attending classes as cover, continuously applying their tricks through real-time chat applications. Once they gain the victim's trust, they arrange an offline meeting, exploiting the victim's fear of being unfamiliar with the location and exposing personal privacy, to coerce the victim into transferring money through threats and intimidation.
Therefore, the embassy advises Chinese nationals to genuinely enhance their awareness of prevention, be cautious in distinguishing the authenticity of social media information, pay attention to protecting personal privacy, and do not easily meet strangers in unfamiliar locations. If faced with threats or intimidation, they should remain calm and rational, report to the police for assistance promptly, and avoid falling into the scam trap.