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

The Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice issued a warning about a new type of telecom fraud scheme that uses counterfeit supermarket "taste cards" as bait to lure victims. These groups distribute fake "taste cards" offline, enticing victims to scan QR codes to join so-called "benefit groups," and then commit fraud involving money transfers and rebates. Police reported 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.