The FBI warns of a financial fraud scheme in which scammers impersonate Chinese law enforcement. The targets include members of the U.S.-based Chinese community, including Chinese students at U.S. universities.

The FBI says scammers are using impersonation of Chinese law enforcement to carry out financial fraud against people in the United States—especially members of the U.S.-based Chinese community, including Chinese students enrolled at American universities. According to the FBI’s warning, the fraudulent outreach is designed to look official and authoritative, pushing victims to engage with scammers using law-enforcement personas. While the details vary by victim, the core pattern is consistent with impersonation-based financial crime: fraudsters establish credibility, apply pressure, and attempt to obtain money and/or sensitive information under the pretense of investigations or official action. The FBI frames the scheme as an ongoing threat and emphasizes that people should recognize impersonation red flags, be cautious about unsolicited communications claiming to be from law enforcement, and use appropriate reporting channels if they believe they have been contacted by scammers. For at-risk communities and international students, the practical takeaway is to verify independently through known, official contacts rather than responding to the caller’s instructions.