The 'Yuantong Express' Impersonation Watch Scam: Fraudsters posing as courier customer service to lure victims into WeChat-based task scams

Who Gets Targeted

The primary victims are young to middle-aged office workers and retirees who shop online, particularly those unfamiliar with courier logistics, prone to seeking 'freebies,' or lacking strong fraud awareness. Victims lower their guard after being lured by 'free watches/gifts.' Under the influence of carefully crafted scripts and 'shills' in group chats, they are encouraged to invest more, eventually falling into the sunk-cost fallacy. This leads to large-scale transfers or the shipment of gold and cash via ride-hailing services, resulting in losses ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yuan.

骗局怎么运作

• Step 1: Criminal syndicates use AI bulk voice calling systems to contact victims, claiming to be 'Yuantong Express' (a deliberate misspelling of the legitimate Yuantong Express) customer service. They claim the victim has a gift package with an unclear address, using professional tones and partial personal information to lower defenses, eventually inducing the victim to add a specific WeChat account to claim the gift.
• Step 2: After adding the contact, the 'customer service' sends a tracking number for a cheap watch or small gift to build trust. They then add the victim to a 'task' or 'rebate' WeChat group under the guise of 'customer appreciation' or 'logistics account activation.' The group is filled with shills posing as beneficiaries, posting screenshots of commissions ranging from dozens to hundreds of yuan to create an atmosphere of easy money.
• Step 3: Victims are guided to download a specific task app or click a link to a fake shopping platform. After completing small tasks worth a few yuan, they receive real rebates, establishing trust. The task amounts then increase to hundreds or thousands of yuan, with victims continuously investing more, fueled by the initial small rebates.
• Step 4: Once the victim's investment reaches a large amount (usually thousands to tens of thousands of yuan), the platform refuses withdrawals citing 'operation errors,' 'system freezes,' or 'the need for consecutive tasks,' demanding further deposits to 'unlock' funds or 'fix data.' Victims, desperate to recover their principal, are forced to keep paying, entering an endless cycle.
• Step 5: When WeChat/Alipay transfers are limited or blocked by bank risk controls, the scammers escalate their tactics. They induce victims to purchase gold (tens to hundreds of grams) or withdraw large amounts of cash, sending them via ride-hailing services to designated addresses or hiding them in food packages (like soybean paste) to bypass bank monitoring and achieve 'physical transfer' of funds.
• Step 6: Once the scam is successful, the victim is removed from the group or blocked, the app becomes inaccessible, and the WeChat account is deleted. The syndicate quickly launders the funds and switches tools and numbers to continue their operations. Some victims refuse to believe they have been scammed even after police intervention.

红旗信号（看到这些快跑）

• 🚩 Incoming calls originate from personal mobile numbers or virtual numbers rather than official courier hotlines (e.g., Yuantong's 95554). The name used is a slight variation of a well-known brand (e.g., 'Yuantong' vs. 'Yuantong').
• 🚩 The caller requests adding a personal WeChat account instead of using official apps or websites. The use of 'free watches' or 'free gifts' as bait is a red flag, as legitimate courier companies do not give away high-value items without cause.
• 🚩 After joining a WeChat group, there is an unusually high volume of commission screenshots and activity, but all members have generic profile pictures and nicknames with no genuine interaction with the group owner, suggesting they are shills.
• 🚩 Task-based scams require upfront payments, with amounts escalating from small sums to thousands or tens of thousands. Withdrawal requests are met with excuses like 'operation errors' or 'account freezes' requiring further deposits, which is not a standard refund process.
• 🚩 Scammers demand the purchase of gold or withdrawal of cash, to be sent via ride-hailing services or hidden in food packages to strange addresses, claiming these are 'secure' or 'green' channels. Legitimate platforms never require physical offline fund transfers.
• 🚩 The scammers create a sense of urgency with phrases like 'limited spots' or 'time-limited event' to prevent victims from thinking clearly or consulting family, while repeatedly emphasizing 'don't tell anyone' or 'this is an internal benefit.'

真实案例

• In August 2026, Sina Finance reported that multiple victims received calls from 'Yuantong Express,' leading to losses of hundreds of thousands of yuan through task scams, characterizing this as a 'resurgent' fraud pattern.
• According to NetEase, a woman joined a task group after receiving a mysterious package and was induced to transfer a total of 450,000 yuan over three days. She only realized the scam when she could not withdraw her large investment.
• According to Toutiao, a victim named Wang received an unsolicited package with a QR code, leading to a loss of 5,200 yuan. Police confirmed the package was part of a bulk 'phishing' campaign by a criminal syndicate.
• NetEase reported that an elderly man in Baoshan, Shanghai, was nearly scammed out of over 10,000 yuan. Police intervened, noting that scammers have upgraded from purely virtual tasks to a hybrid model involving physical mail and ride-hailing transport of cash/gold.
• HK01 reported that an off-duty policewoman in Shandong stopped a shopkeeper from transferring 450,000 yuan in savings, successfully saving her life savings from a task scam that had escalated to offline fund transfer.
• In August 2026, the Fuyang District Procuratorate in Hangzhou handled multiple cases involving courier-based fraud. A woman lost 450,000 yuan in three days after scanning a QR code on a scratch-card in a package. (Source: https://www.163.com/dy/article/L3OTB2KT0530JPVV.html)
• In August 2026, the Fuyang District Procuratorate disclosed another case where a Mr. B was induced to download a fake app after scanning a QR code, eventually transferring 150,000 yuan before the scammers disappeared. (Source: https://www.163.com/dy/article/L3OTB2KT0530JPVV.html)

Official Stance

• The Zhangjiagang Public Security Bureau issued a warning in February 2023 titled 'Free Gifts? Beware, It's a Scam!', highlighting the prevalence and high losses associated with gift-based task scams.
• Kuaishou Security Center issued a summer safety alert on August 3, 2026, via China News Service, listing 'free gift task scams' as one of six major threats to minors, urging parents to supervise online shopping and social activities.
• Yangjiang News published a warning on April 17, 2026, titled 'Courier Customer Service Sending Gifts? It's a Phishing Scam,' exposing the methods used by syndicates and warning citizens not to trust calls from strangers.
• CNA reported on July 31, 2026, on cases involving the interception of ride-hailing 'delivery' scams, warning that criminals are using ride-hailing services for offline fund transfers and urging citizens to report such requests to the police immediately.

How to Protect Yourself

• ✅ When receiving a call claiming to be from a courier company, verify the information via the official app or hotline (e.g., Yuantong 95554). Never add personal WeChat accounts provided by callers; legitimate companies do not use private WeChat for package handling or high-value gift distribution.
• ✅ If you receive an unsolicited package, do not scan any QR codes or follow instructions on included cards. Destroy the card and contact the official courier customer service to verify the sender. Report suspicious packages to the police.
• ✅ Remember: 'Any task that requires upfront payment for promised rebates is a scam.' Legitimate platforms do not require users to pay for goods, and 'brushing' (fake reviews) is a violation of the Anti-Unfair Competition Law.
• ✅ If asked to buy gold, withdraw cash, or use ride-hailing services to transfer funds, stop immediately. This is a major red flag. Call 110, and preserve all evidence, including chat logs, transfer receipts, and tracking numbers for police investigation.