The Collapse of the Hezhong Yuanjing TGG-X Scam: An AI Quantitative Investment Scheme Promising 155% Annual Returns, Revealed as a Ponzi Scheme

Who Gets Targeted

Victims are mostly middle-aged and elderly individuals in their 40s and 50s who have some savings but lack financial expertise, as well as some younger investors blindly worshiping AI technology. They are often swayed by screenshots of 'daily earnings over 1,000' in WeChat groups, moving from small test investments of a few hundred yuan to heavy positions of hundreds of thousands within just a week or two. Three psychological weaknesses are common: first, the greed for returns far exceeding bank products; second, the fear of missing out (FOMO) after seeing others around them 'making money'; and third, the reluctance to withdraw when the account shows a profit, often leading them to borrow money to increase their positions, only to be repeatedly scammed due to an 'unwillingness to give up'.

骗局怎么运作

• Scammers first build a professional-looking AI quantitative trading platform, using buzzwords like 'intelligent algorithms capturing market volatility' and pairing them with forged earnings curves and screenshots of celebrity endorsements to make users believe the technical barrier is extremely high. They usually promote heavily in communities, claiming that ordinary investors can also achieve excess returns through AI.
• Next, they guide users to download an app or visit a website via a browser. After registration, users must deposit USDT or RMB to activate the 'AI Custody' feature. During this process, customer service will repeatedly emphasize scarcity, using phrases like 'limited investment slots' or 'internal channels' to create a sense of urgency and pressure users to remit funds quickly.
• In the early stages, they strictly pay out interest as promised and even allow small withdrawals to make users fully believe the project is legitimate. It is this 'sweetener effect' that leads many victims to not only increase their investment but also actively recruit friends and family, creating organic user growth.
• The platform designs hierarchical systems such as 'referral rewards' and 'team commissions.' The more people a user recruits, the higher the rebate percentage. At this point, the project shifts from 'wealth management' to 'recruitment,' which is essentially a Ponzi structure where the principal of latecomers pays the returns of earlier participants.
• When new capital can no longer cover withdrawal requests, the platform will refuse withdrawals citing reasons like system upgrades, risk control freezes, or tax audits, while continuing to promote new activities to attract deposits. Finally, the operators shut down the website, disband the chat groups, or even 'migrate' to a new project for a second harvest.

红旗信号（看到这些快跑）

• 🚩 Promising high annual returns of 155% or more, far exceeding market averages, without any collateral assets or real sources of profit.
• 🚩 Using buzzwords like 'AI,' 'quantitative,' and 'ecosystem' in marketing, while technical details and the operating company's background remain vague, with no verifiable business registration.
• 🚩 Requiring users to recruit others to earn commissions; the revenue structure is highly similar to pyramid schemes, where participants are both victims and promoters.
• 🚩 Deposit channels often point to personal accounts, overseas accounts, or USDT, and no official invoices can be issued, making the flow of funds difficult to track.
• 🚩 Platform domains change frequently, and the app cannot be downloaded from official app stores, requiring installation via links or QR codes.
• 🚩 Demanding extra fees for 'risk control,' 'taxes,' or 'transaction volume' during withdrawal attempts—a final harvesting tactic before the platform disappears.

真实案例

• According to the anti-fraud website hdbq.cc in 2026, the Hezhong Yuanjing TGG-X project attracted investors with an 'AI illusion' of 155% annual returns before collapsing; police have opened an investigation. (Source: https://www.hdbq.cc/article/19954.html)
• According to the project resource site pxjm.cc, Microex (WeiYi AI) collapsed completely, leaving about 300,000 people trapped with billions of yuan in losses. The operators attempted to migrate to the Miyi Exchange to harvest victims again. (Source: https://www.pxjm.cc/article/5293.html)
• As reported by NetEase citing Shanghai police, authorities cracked a cross-border money laundering ring involving virtual currency and virtual credit cards worth over 20 billion yuan, highlighting the high incidence of crime in the crypto-payment sector. (Source: https://www.163.com/dy/article/L628O7020511B8LM.html)
• In March 2026, the project resource site exposed the total collapse of Microex AI, which had operated for three years under the guise of AI intelligent trading, attracting over 300,000 members. After closing withdrawal channels, it forcibly converted balances into worthless tokens and induced users to migrate to the Miyi Exchange for a second harvest; multiple team leaders were arrested by police. (Source: https://www.pxjm.cc/article/5293.html)
• In September 2026, CCTV News reported that Shanghai police cracked a case of illegal virtual currency money laundering, conducting multiple raids and arresting 19 suspects. Preliminary statistics show the case involved nearly 20 billion yuan, with 5 suspects officially arrested by the procuratorate. (Source: https://www.163.com/dy/article/L628O7020511B8LM.html)

Official Stance

• In 2026 (exact date not publicly disclosed), police opened an investigation into the Hezhong Yuanjing TGG-X case, as disclosed by the anti-fraud website hdbq.cc.
• Shanghai police announced in 2026 the cracking of a major cross-border underground banking case involving virtual currency, exceeding 20 billion yuan, as reported by NetEase News.
• cailu888.com published an article in 2026 warning that 11 projects were in the process of 'closing the net,' advising investors to withdraw immediately and be wary of similar Ponzi schemes.

How to Protect Yourself

• ✅ Be wary of any 'AI wealth management' claiming annual returns exceeding 6%. Check the platform's qualifications on the official websites of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) or the National Financial Regulatory Administration to confirm if they hold a financial license.
• ✅ Do not download investment apps via unknown links. Use the National Anti-Fraud Center app to scan before installation, and refuse to transfer money to personal or overseas accounts.
• ✅ Once you encounter withdrawal difficulties or lose contact with customer service, save transfer records, chat screenshots, and the platform URL immediately. Report the case to local public security authorities and call the 96110 anti-fraud hotline for consultation.
• ✅ Discuss with family and friends to avoid impulsive decisions based on 'insider tips' or 'limited slots.' Remember that high returns always come with high risks; any business promising guaranteed profits is almost certainly a scam.