255 agents were arrested by the police, and cross-border e-commerce sellers were defrauded of all their money!

255 agents were arrested by the police, and cross-border e-commerce sellers were defrauded of all their money!

We know that agency operation has always been controversial in the cross-border industry. Sellers generally believe that most agency operations are "unreliable", "scamming", and "unconscientious". Recently, Shenzhen police launched three rounds of operations against fake e-commerce agency operation fraud, destroyed three fake agency operation companies, and controlled a total of 255 suspects. Agency operation has once again attracted attention...


I hired someone to run my online store, but I only received a few video links after spending 9,000 yuan


In June this year, Ms. Deng searched online for the steps to open a store on Amazon, and an advertisement automatically popped up on the webpage, claiming to be a professional operation company with instructors who could provide nanny-style operation services. By purchasing the corresponding package, she could enjoy services such as "online store decoration design", "product positioning", and "drop shipping". The store owner only needed to wait for orders.

Ms. Deng was very interested and left her WeChat ID, contact number and other information. Soon, a "Mr. Xiao Zhong" who claimed to be an online store consultant of a Shenzhen exhibition business company contacted Ms. Deng and introduced the company's four different price packages: 2998 yuan for the start-up version, 5998 yuan for the elite version, 8998 yuan for the flagship version, and 19800 yuan for the professional version, and listed several "successful cases" of the company's agency operation.


With the idea of ​​giving it a try, Ms. Deng chose the most basic Entrepreneurship Edition package, but in more than a month she only received a few video links sent by "Teacher Xiao Zhong" for her to watch and learn on her own; when she asked about operational issues, there was often no response.


Ms. Deng complained to the company, and the "business manager" comforted her and suggested that she upgrade her service package to the elite version, saying that after the upgrade, not only could she get real-time replies to her messages, but she could also enjoy many value-added services such as "optimizing keywords", "creating hot products", and "off-site promotion and diversion" . Ms. Deng was persuaded again and paid another 5,998 yuan to upgrade the package, but she still only received low-value services such as changing the store and product name. Only then did she realize that she had been cheated, so she called 110 to report the crime.

"They said that after the upgrade, I don't have to do anything. They will take care of everything and I just have to wait to receive orders." Ms. Deng said when she called the police.


141 agents arrested by Shenzhen police


In addition, the Longgang police in Shenzhen also found another education technology company suspected of defrauding service fees under the guise of agency operation during their daily work, so they launched a survey of e-commerce training and e-commerce agency operation companies in the area. After multiple investigations, the police finally obtained evidence of the suspected fraud of "Mou Zhan Business Company" and "Mou Hui Education Technology Company".

On October 23 and 30, Longgang police launched two unified crackdown operations, and a total of 141 criminal suspects from the two companies were arrested.


Fake orders to create the illusion of a booming store


Coincidentally, the Longhua police in Shenzhen also launched a crackdown on a fake e-commerce agency fraud den in the jurisdiction.

Different from the routine of "a certain exhibition business company" in Longgang District, a Shenzhen technology company promised in its publicity that it could actually increase online store sales in order to make the scam more realistic. After customers purchase the agency operation service, the company will arrange its customer service department, online store construction department and other personnel to decorate and so-called operate the online store of Amazon merchants. It will also falsely increase the sales and page views of the target Amazon store by means of brushing orders, sending empty packages, and "hot items" , or deceive Amazon merchants by modifying the background data of its official website, making Amazon merchants mistakenly believe that its company is in good operating condition and has equal strength . Then, it tricks victims into upgrading the package version and paying higher fees to achieve the purpose of further fraud.

The gang has a tight organizational structure, with multiple departments, clear division of labor and mutual cooperation between departments. However, they do not have the ability to operate an online store, let alone the qualifications for online store operation training. " The victims saw that the store's sales increased, but in fact, it was a false illusion created by the gang through fake orders. The victims could not make any money at all ," said the Longhua police.

On the afternoon of October 30, the Criminal Police Brigade of the Longhua Public Security Bureau and the Yousong Police Station jointly launched a crackdown on a Shenzhen technology company, and seized a fraud gang headed by Zeng Moutao in one fell swoop. They controlled 114 suspects on the spot and have taken criminal coercive measures against 20 key members of the gang.


Amazon's new sellers are being tricked by many scams


One seller asked in confusion: "So these are all considered scams?" Yes, that's right! This kind of agency operation that provides fake services is a scam , but some agencies will not let you know that they are "cheating" you. Instead, they will let the seller taste a little sweetness, which makes it seem like they can make a lot of money, but in the end the seller will still lose all their money.

This kind of fraudulent company that claims to help online store operators, their means are to deceive people into buying their so-called packages, provide so-called product positioning, one-piece shipping and other services, and then tell the store owner to just wait for orders. In fact, the services they provide are very inferior, even fake, and have no effect on online store operations. The award certificates are purchased online, and the successful chat records are forged .

It is understood that the business models of these three companies suspected of fraud are similar.

Business Model


The first step is to post a large number of advertisements on online search engines and short video platforms, using gimmicks such as "providing supply, drop shipping, full-time nanny-like service, and customers only need to wait for orders" to attract customers to come for consultation.


The second step is to fabricate various "success stories" to lure customers into signing service packages at different prices. In fact, they only provide low-value services such as changing the store name or product name, or create the illusion of a booming customer flow by false orders.


In the third step, when customers report that the services provided by the company are not in line with the promises and the agency operation is ineffective, the "business manager" will use the prepared words to deceive customers to upgrade their packages and purchase higher-level services. Some victims are unwilling to see their previous investment go down the drain, but still have illusions about the agency operation, so they choose to pay to upgrade.


The fourth step is that when the upgrade still has no effect and the victim realizes that they have been deceived and asks for a refund, the company will shirk responsibility by saying that the salesperson has resigned or has been transferred to another position, until they finally ignore the company. The victims are basically new online shop owners and housewives who want to start a business but lack experience.


There are many e-commerce operating companies in the market, but they are mixed. Before choosing an operating service, you must carefully identify the qualifications, scale, team, etc. of the operating company to avoid being deceived.


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