A scam targeting elderly people recently occurred in Weihai, Shandong Province, China. The suspect, Li, who is a supermarket owner, distributed free eggs, instant noodles, and other daily necessities to elderly residents in the area under the pretext of rewarding loyal customers. He also organized so-called “financial sharing meetings” to gain the trust of some elderly people, and then introduced the “investment project in sea cucumber farming,” through which he deceived more than 50 elderly individuals out of a total of over 500,000 yuan.
According to a report from “Jiupai News” on May 9, Li operated a supermarket in Weihai. He regularly distributed items such as eggs and instant noodles for free to elderly residents in the vicinity, claiming it was a way to give back to loyal customers. Additionally, he frequently held “financial sharing meetings.”
After gaining the trust of these elderly individuals, Li launched the so-called “investment project in sea cucumber farming,” promising regular returns and high profits for those who invested. This scheme attracted multiple elderly investors.
Many elderly people then invested their savings in this project. However, when the promised returns were due, Li disappeared, and the supermarket was found closed. The duped elderly individuals subsequently reported the incident to the police.
According to police statistics, the number of victims in this case is substantial, with the involved amount exceeding 500,000 yuan. Currently, Li has been detained, and the investigation of the case is ongoing.
In recent years, cases similar to this, where scammers use “free egg distribution,” “free health check-ups,” or “free travel” as bait to promote investment, financial planning, or elderly care projects to elderly individuals, have been recurring in various parts of China.