Netizen "Zhonglin" Receives 5-Day Administrative Detention for Falsely Staging Photos of "Being Rescued After Being Deceived by Telecom Fraud Gang to Overseas"

From: Ministry of Public Security Cybersecurity Bureau

The anti-fraud field receives high attention. Some individuals, aiming for traffic, fabricate and shoot false videos related to anti-fraud efforts. Recently, several videos were widely shared online, quickly causing a stir. In the videos, a host claims that while traveling at the Yunnan border, he was scammed abroad and was later rescued and brought back by local police. Many netizens expressed sympathy for this host’s unfortunate experience; however, it was all staged for views.

These videos were posted on short video platforms by a man using the online name Zhonglin. His real name is Xu. Since February 26 of this year, he has released multiple videos and livestreamed on the platform, claiming that due to a conflict with someone in Guiyang, he traveled to the Yunnan border to relax, but was tricked by overseas telecom fraud gangs and then rescued by local police, which attracted widespread attention online.

Feng Gongliang, a cybersecurity officer from the Nanming Branch of Guiyang Public Security Bureau: The series of videos he made are quite logical, and their credibility is very high for us. Ordinary people find it hard to distinguish.

Jiang Junfeng, head of the Cybersecurity Brigade at the Nanming Branch of Guiyang Public Security Bureau: After seeing his videos, the vast number of netizens are highly concerned about his personal safety. We also received many online reports requiring us to investigate this matter.

After receiving the reports, Nanming police immediately launched an investigation. They used methods such as tracking the trajectory, comparing entry and exit records, and conducting on-site visits to verify the truth of the incident comprehensively.

Jiang Junfeng: We also contacted Yunnan police. After about a week of investigation, the two police departments finally clarified the situation.

The investigation revealed that the so-called incident of being scammed abroad was entirely fabricated by Xu himself. Police found that since February this year, Xu, a network host with 170,000 followers, targeted the high attention on anti-fraud topics online. He deliberately created false short videos to dramatize tense atmospheres, exaggerate the anxiety of being lured abroad, and attract a large number of uninformed viewers.

Feng Gongliang: Because the online content is now highly homogenized, he noticed that his usual livestreams and videos weren’t gaining as many followers as before. He thought that by adopting the identity of an “anti-fraud host” and fabricating a persona of someone rescued from abroad, he could produce content that would attract more followers.

The police stated that Xu’s attempt to establish a “anti-fraud host” persona through false experiences to quickly increase followers not only exploited public goodwill but also damaged the online environment, encouraged fraudulent profit-seeking, severely disrupted online communication order, and occupied public resources and police efforts that should be used for urgent rescue needs, causing negative social impacts.

Jiang Junfeng: Using a false script to attract public attention not only occupies public resources but also leads to misunderstandings among the public about our society.

Currently, Xu has been administratively detained for five days by the Nanming Branch of Guiyang Public Security Bureau for fabricating facts that disturbed public order. His online account used for posting false videos has been legally shut down, and all related illegal content has been removed.

Police reminder: Anti-fraud publicity concerns the safety of public property and social stability. It cannot tolerate false hype or rumors to attract attention. Online influencers should take on their social responsibilities, adhere to legal and moral bottom lines, and gain attention through high-quality, positive content. Do not risk crossing legal red lines just for traffic.