$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Chinese embassy robocall scam
An automated call in Mandarin claims to be from the Chinese embassy or consulate, stating the recipient has an important document or is involved in a legal matter requiring immediate action and payment.
“robocall”
↑ 126%Key indicators
Usually targetsNon-English speakers
Often hitsRetirees and seniors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$120 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~10%
Annual reports50,000
Scam breakdown
1
Robocallers target phone numbers associated with Chinese-speaking communities with a pre-recorded Mandarin message.
2
The message claims to be from the Chinese embassy and says the recipient is involved in a crime or has a legal document to collect.
3
Victims are transferred to a live scammer posing as a police officer who demands wire transfers to resolve the case.
What to do first
Hang up — the Chinese embassy does not contact citizens through pre-recorded phone calls demanding money.
Related terms
Chinese consulate phone scamMandarin robocall scamembassy package scamRobocall scamsPhoneRisingNon-English speakersPhone usersRetirees and seniorsLawyers and legal professionalsImmigrants and visa holdersUnited StatesCanadaAustraliaChinese consulate phone scamMandarin robocall scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Rebecca, 35, a non-english speakers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate robocall scams situation while using Phone. Robocallers target phone numbers associated with Chinese-speaking communities with a pre-recorded Mandarin message.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The message claims to be from the Chinese embassy and says the recipient is involved in a crime or has a legal document to collect.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Victims are transferred to a live scammer posing as a police officer who demands wire transfers to resolve the case.
The outcome
Rebecca realized something was wrong when automated message in mandarin claiming to be from a chinese embassy or consulate. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Hang up — the Chinese embassy does not contact citizens through pre-recorded phone calls demanding money. Rebecca's experience shows why automated message in mandarin claiming to be from a chinese embassy or consulate and claims you have an uncollected package or are involved in a legal case in china are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Automated message in Mandarin claiming to be from a Chinese embassy or consulate
- Claims you have an uncollected package or are involved in a legal case in China
- Demands personal information or payment to avoid arrest or deportation
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Hang up — the Chinese embassy does not contact citizens through pre-recorded phone calls demanding money.
- ✓Contact the Chinese embassy directly through the number on its official website if you have concerns.
- ✓Report the call to the FTC and your local law enforcement.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FBI and Chinese embassy have both issued warnings about this scam, which has caused millions of dollars in losses targeting Chinese-speaking communities in the US and Canada.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Hang up — the Chinese embassy does not contact citizens through pre-recorded phone calls demanding money.
- ✓Contact the Chinese embassy directly through the number on its official website if you have concerns.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FBI and Chinese embassy have both issued warnings about this scam, which has caused millions of dollars in losses targeting Chinese-speaking communities in the US and Canada.
FBI IC3 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Non-English speakers, Phone users
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, Australia
Primary channel
Phone — Robocall scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Non-English speakers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FBI and Chinese embassy have both issued warnings about this scam, which has caused millions of dollars in losses targeting Chinese-speaking communities in the US and Canada.
Source notes
- FBI IC3 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about chinese embassy robocall scam
How does the chinese embassy robocall scam work?+
Robocallers target phone numbers associated with Chinese-speaking communities with a pre-recorded Mandarin message. The message claims to be from the Chinese embassy and says the recipient is involved in a crime or has a legal document to collect. Victims are transferred to a live scammer posing as a police officer who demands wire transfers to resolve the case.
What are the warning signs of chinese embassy robocall scam?+
Automated message in Mandarin claiming to be from a Chinese embassy or consulate Claims you have an uncollected package or are involved in a legal case in China Demands personal information or payment to avoid arrest or deportation
What should I do if I encounter chinese embassy robocall scam?+
Hang up — the Chinese embassy does not contact citizens through pre-recorded phone calls demanding money. Contact the Chinese embassy directly through the number on its official website if you have concerns. Report the call to the FTC and your local law enforcement.
Who is most at risk for chinese embassy robocall scam?+
This scam primarily targets Non-English speakers, Phone users. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, Australia and typically appears on Phone.
Is chinese embassy robocall scam on the rise?+
Chinese embassy robocall scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.