齐鲁银行发布防范“五大领域”消费风险的提示

Core Viewpoint - The announcement by Qilu Bank highlights the prevalence of illegal financial activities disguised as "high returns, low risk" in the booming financial consumer market, urging consumers to enhance their risk awareness and ability to identify and resist such illegal activities [1][6]. Group 1: Identification of Risks in Financial Consumption - Five major financial consumption areas are identified where illegal activities are prevalent, including: - Private Investment Intermediaries: Unapproved financial companies and platforms use popular concepts like "new energy" and "blockchain" to create fictitious investment projects, leading to significant financial losses for consumers [1]. - Elderly Care Sector: Scammers exploit the information asymmetry and lower risk awareness of the elderly, promising high returns through schemes like "retirement financial products" and "housing for elderly care," often resulting in fund misappropriation [2]. - Agricultural Sector: In rural areas, illegal financial activities appear under the guise of "agricultural cooperatives" and "poverty alleviation projects," targeting farmers' lack of financial knowledge and promising high returns [3]. - Retail Market: Some merchants lure consumers with "prepaid card rebates" and "shopping returns," leading to significant financial losses when businesses suddenly close [4]. - Cultural and Tourism Sector: Fraudsters use concepts like "tourism real estate" and "cultural digital currency" to package illegal fundraising projects, making it difficult for ordinary consumers to discern legitimacy [5]. Group 2: Consumer Protection Strategies - Four key strategies are recommended for consumers to enhance their self-protection: - Maintain Rationality: Consumers should reject offers of "high returns" and be cautious of promises like "capital preservation with high returns," as these often violate financial principles [4]. - Verify Licensed Operations: It is crucial for consumers to verify the qualifications of financial service providers and choose those with proper licenses issued by regulatory authorities [5]. - Avoid Illegal Lending Channels: Consumers are advised to refrain from clicking on unknown links or transferring money to unfamiliar accounts to avoid falling into illegal lending traps [5]. - Strengthen Evidence Awareness: Consumers should keep thorough records of transactions and evidence in case of suspected illegal financial activities, and report any losses to the authorities promptly [5].