In recent years, in accordance with the deployment requirements of the Ministry of Public Security, public security organs across the country have continuously deepened the rectification of unhealthy practices and corruption around the masses. Together with relevant departments, they have carried out in-depth investigations and crackdowns on illegal fundraising crimes in the elderly care field, successfully solving a number of major cases of illegal fundraising crimes mainly targeting the elderly population, effectively safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the elderly, and helping the healthy development of the elderly care service industry. Today, the Ministry of Public Security announced 5 typical cases of illegal fundraising crimes in the elderly care sector. In May 2022, the Baotou Public Security Bureau of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region lawfully filed and investigated a case involving Wang and others who illegally absorbed public deposits under the pretext of selling cemetery rebates. After investigation, from 2016 to 2019, Wang and others, under the name of a funeral service company they actually controlled, launched a cemetery sales model with a return on principal and interest payment period of 1 to 5 years to attract funds from the public. For example, if a customer purchases the company's cemetery for one year and is willing to return the cemetery, the company will pay interest of 8% -15% of the purchase price to the buyer and return the entire principal. As of the incident, a total of over 70 million yuan has been absorbed, involving more than 800 participants (80% of whom are over 60 years old). After the incident, the public security organs arrested 11 people including Wang. In December 2024, the Shiguai District People's Court of Baotou City made a guilty verdict against the above-mentioned individuals for the crime of illegally absorbing public deposits. In June 2022, the Shenyang Public Security Bureau in Liaoning Province lawfully filed and investigated the case of Li and others suspected of illegally absorbing public deposits under the guise of "medical and elderly care integration". According to the investigation, since 2013, suspect Li et al. have registered a pension industry company, under the guise of the "combination of medical care and nursing care" model, to absorb funds from the public by selling consumer cards, internal capital increase and share expansion. The consumption card model is as follows: after the investor purchases the consumption card, the company recharges the card at 1.2 times the amount of their investment. The consumption card can be used in hospitals and nursing homes associated with the company. After two years, the investor can request a refund of the balance in the card. If no consumption is incurred, the card will be refunded at 1.2 times the actual investment amount, with a 20% interest payment for two years. The internal capital increase and share expansion model is as follows: the company sells its original listed equity at a price ranging from 1-1.2 yuan per share, promising to go public within a certain period of time. If it fails to go public by the due date, the principal will be refunded to the investors and interest will be paid. As of the incident, a total of 1.2 billion yuan has been absorbed, involving more than 5000 participants (95% of whom are over 60 years old). At present, Mr. Li and other major suspect have been captured and brought to justice, and the case has been transferred to the procuratorial organ for review and prosecution. In January 2025, the Public Security Bureau of Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province, lawfully filed and investigated the case of Ren and others suspected of illegally absorbing public deposits under the guise of investing in "health products" projects. After investigation, since December 2023, the suspect Ren and others have registered a plant science and technology company. In the name of investing in the "Leaf Eating Grass" project, they declared that "Leaf Eating Grass" is a health care product from abroad, which has unique health care effects on the elderly. Large scale planting can bring tangible benefits. They have also recruited elderly customers in the food market, bus stops, parks and other places in the old city, and promised to invest 3000 yuan per order, and return the principal and 200 yuan of income 60 days later. As of the incident, a total of over 3.4 million yuan has been absorbed, involving more than 90 participants (80% of whom are over 60 years old). At present, four major suspect including Ren have been arrested and the case is under further investigation. The case of illegal absorption of public deposits by Liao and others in Hubei Province - illegal fundraising under the guise of selling "prepaid cards" and "membership cards" for elderly care services. In February 2023, the Public Security Bureau of Ezhou City, Hubei Province, lawfully filed and investigated the case of Liao and others suspected of illegal absorption of public deposits. After investigation, since 2014, Liao et al. have classified their services into six levels, including "experience cards," "silver cards," "gold cards," "platinum cards," "diamond cards," and "supreme cards," under the name of a nursing home they actually control. They claim that customers who pay varying amounts of reservation fees to the nursing home can enjoy corresponding discounts on elderly care accommodation and "welfare subsidies" (interest) with annual interest rates ranging from 8% to 11%. They also promise to refund the principal after three years, using this as bait to collect customers' retirement service reservation fees. As of the incident, a total of about 400 million yuan has been absorbed, involving more than 3000 participants (80% of whom are over 60 years old). After the incident, the public security organs arrested 57 people including Liao. In January 2025, the Huarong District People's Court of Ezhou City made a guilty verdict against the above-mentioned individuals for the crime of illegally absorbing public deposits. Hunan Gong and others are suspected of illegally absorbing public deposits - illegally raising funds under the guise of providing "health tourism". In September 2024, the Yiyang Public Security Bureau in Hunan Province lawfully filed an investigation into the case of Gong and others suspected of illegally absorbing public deposits. According to the investigation, since 2019, the suspect Gong and others have registered a Kanglv Culture Group Company, set up branches in many places across the country, recruited middle-aged and elderly tourists in parks and squares around the country, organized a low-cost tour of 398 yuan for three days and two nights, held a project recommendation meeting in the process of tourism, and the salesperson recommended residential projects to tourists point-to-point, attracting investment with 18% -24% of annual income as bait. As of the incident, a total of over 600 million yuan has been absorbed, involving more than 8000 participants (83% of whom are over 60 years old). At present, Gong and other major suspect have been arrested and the case is under further investigation. The Economic Crime Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security reminds that illegal fundraising crimes in the elderly care sector are frequent, with updated and upgraded modus operandi, which is highly deceptive and confusing. Remember the following anti fraud keywords and protect your wallet. High returns: Promise interest rates higher than regular wealth management products, claim "zero risk" and "guaranteed profit", or attract you to participate by giving gifts, organizing travel dinners, and other means. Attracting acquaintances: Using relationships such as relatives, friends, neighbors, and old colleagues to "kill acquaintances" and using trust to lower your defenses. Expert platform: Invite so-called "experts", "famous doctors", and "successful individuals" to give lectures or endorse, creating a false impression of authority. Seeing is believing: organizing visits to luxurious retirement homes and tourist attractions to create the illusion of strong strength, but in reality, it is a rented or fictional venue. Warmth Offensive: Salespeople are exceptionally enthusiastic, calling out "uncle and aunt" affectionately, providing "thoughtful" service, and playing the emotional card to gain trust. Hunger marketing: claiming "limited quota", "limited time discount", "no more missed", creating a tense atmosphere to urge you to pay as soon as possible. (New Society)