What are the red flags of this scam?

An unexpected call via WeChat, WhatsApp, or phone from someone claiming to be Chinese police, customs, health insurance, or NASC • Caller says your phone number, name, or bank account was found in a criminal investigation in China • NASC variant: caller identifies as an Australian NASC officer and says your phone number was used in a scam in China — offers to help 'clear your record' • You are 'transferred' to another 'senior officer' or 'prosecutor' during the call to add urgency • Sent official-looking documents with Chinese court seals, stamps, or AFP/NASC logos via WeChat or email • Told you have an arrest warrant and must transfer money or provide bank details to avoid being detained

What should I do if this happened to me?

Hang up — Australian and Chinese authorities never contact people by WeChat or cold phone calls about criminal investigations • Never send money to 'clear a criminal record' or 'avoid arrest' — no legitimate authority operates this way • Do not share personal documents, tax file numbers, bank account details, or photos with unexpected callers claiming to be police • The real NASC will never ask for money, financial information, or personal details over the phone • If you have transferred funds, call your bank immediately to stop or reverse the transfer, then report to police • Report to Scamwatch at https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam or ReportCyber at https://www.cyber.gov.au/report.

HIGH government impersonation Last reported: 19 Oct 2026 Share

"Chinese police" or NASC caller claims your identity is linked to a crime in China

Q: Is this a scam?

Yes. This is a documented scam pattern. Callers impersonate Chinese police, customs, or the Australian NASC, claiming your phone or identity is linked to crime in China. After questioning you to verify innocence, they escalate to demanding money transfers or personal data to avoid arrest or clear your record.

Callers impersonate Chinese police, customs, or the Australian NASC, claiming your phone or identity is linked to crime in China. After questioning you to verify innocence, they escalate to demanding money transfers or personal data to avoid arrest or clear your record.

Also known as: Mandarin scam Australia, Chinese police impersonation scam, NASC China investigation scam, fake arrest warrant China scam, WeChat police impersonation, fake Chinese authority scam

Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes

1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.

What to do right now

1 Hang up — Australian and Chinese authorities never contact people by WeChat or cold phone calls about criminal investigations
2 Never send money to 'clear a criminal record' or 'avoid arrest' — no legitimate authority operates this way
3 Do not share personal documents, tax file numbers, bank account details, or photos with unexpected callers claiming to be police
4 The real NASC will never ask for money, financial information, or personal details over the phone
5 If you have transferred funds, call your bank immediately to stop or reverse the transfer, then report to police
6 Report to Scamwatch at https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam or ReportCyber at https://www.cyber.gov.au/report.

Red flags

⚠ An unexpected call via WeChat, WhatsApp, or phone from someone claiming to be Chinese police, customs, health insurance, or NASC
⚠ Caller says your phone number, name, or bank account was found in a criminal investigation in China
⚠ NASC variant: caller identifies as an Australian NASC officer and says your phone number was used in a scam in China — offers to help 'clear your record'
⚠ You are 'transferred' to another 'senior officer' or 'prosecutor' during the call to add urgency
⚠ Sent official-looking documents with Chinese court seals, stamps, or AFP/NASC logos via WeChat or email
⚠ Told you have an arrest warrant and must transfer money or provide bank details to avoid being detained

Known variants

NASC impersonation variant (2025–2026): caller claims to be from Australian NASC, says your phone number was found in a scam in China, may claim to work with Chinese Anti-Scam Centre. Builds trust through questioning. Does not always demand money immediately — first collects personal and financial details to enable downstream fraud.

Last seen: 10/19/2026
Virtual kidnapping variant (2026): student threatened with criminal charges unless they stage 'kidnapping' photos sent to family overseas with ransom demand. Student isolated for hours by psychological coercion. 900 victims, $1.5M lost in 2026.

Last seen: 10/19/2026

Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes

What to do right now

Red flags

Known variants

Sources