Cop shields public from scammers

In the bustling heart of Beijing, where ancient alleyways mix with cutting-edge tech hubs, an unseen battle unfolds.

The bad guys don't carry knives or break into homes — they hide behind fake profiles, phony investment apps and sweet-talking phone calls. For the good guys, their weapons are a mix of sharp detective skills, a whole lot of heart and the kind of patience that makes even the most skeptical victims trust them.

Among the front-line is Xing Yunwei, a veteran anti-fraud police officer from the capital's Shijingshan district. With about five years of experience on the beat, Xing is not just saving people's life savings from being stolen — he's picking up the pieces after the scammers strike.

Throughout Xing's career, he's had a front-row seat to how China's crime scene has evolved.

Back when he started as a rookie at a local police station, his days were spent chasing burglars and breaking up street fights. A year later, he moved to the criminal investigation team, tackling everything from gang violence to old-school scams.

But around 2020, as China's internet and telecommunication penetration expanded, cases of telecom fraud began to surge. More and more people were walking into stations saying, "I sent money to someone online, and now they're gone." Online fraud was exploding, and Xing was handpicked to join the district's new anti-fraud center.

"It was like learning a whole new job," he said. "Before, I could follow footprints or check surveillance cameras. With these scams? The scammers are in another province — or country — typing behind a laptop."