Since August 2017, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with Chinese embassies and consulates throughout the world have issued multiple warnings about telephone scams, calling on Chinese citizens to be vigilant in guarding against counterfeit telephone calls made in the name of Chinese embassies and consulates.
Recently, Chinese embassies and consulates in the United States, Australia, and Canada as well as the Global Consular Protection and Service Emergency Call Center(12308 hotline) in Beijing, have received an increasing number of reports from Chinese citizens and foreign nationals about received phone calls made in the name of Chinese embassies and consulates. In many cases, the perpetrators are able to simulate the phone numbers of Chinese embassies or consulates, so as to make their calls seem more credible.
In light of this situation, please be reminded again that these calls are NOT made by Chinese embassies or consulates:
Firstly, Chinese embassies and consulates will never notify parties by telephone or recorded messages regarding any documents, parcels to be collected, or legal cases to be handled. Nor will they request personal information, such as a bank account or ID number over the phone.
Secondly, Chinese embassies and consulates will never transfer call recipients to a so-called “Interpol Center” or public prosecutor's office in any telephone conversation or recorded message, nor will they require anyone to return calls for further contact. If you receive a call that appears to be from a Chinese embassy or consulate but is swiftly cut off after the first ring, it is almost certainly from a simulated number. Please exert extra caution.
Thirdly, do not disclose personal information such as your name, address, family situation, bank account numbers, etc. to strangers over the phone. If you are informed of a "traffic accident", "kidnapping", "loved one involved in an accident", etc. from a stranger by phone, please remain calm and wait until the situation is verified through other channels before handling it.
If you receive a suspected scam call, it is recommended that you call the number listed on the official website of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in your country, or call the Global Consular Protection and Service Emergency hotline at (01186) 12308, to make further verification. If you suffered financial loss, please report to local police in your country of residence promptly. If you are a Chinese citizen, you should also report to the police in China.
The phone number of the Global Protection and Service Emergency Call Center at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China is : (01186) 12308 or +86-10-59913991.