湖北武汉租机平台青云租陷兑付危机，600多人投资3亿多，“手机”和钱都被困在平台里

Core Viewpoint - The news highlights the collapse of the mobile rental platform Qingyun Rental, revealing it as a potential Ponzi scheme that misled investors with promises of high returns while engaging in dubious financial practices [1][2][3]. Group 1: Company Operations - Qingyun Rental attracted over 600 investors, accumulating more than 300 million yuan in funds, while claiming to operate a legitimate mobile rental business [2][3]. - The company allegedly created a facade of high demand for mobile rentals and substantial profits, promising investors an annualized return of 16.8% [1][6]. - Reports indicate that instead of purchasing phones for rental, the company may have used fake logistics to create the illusion of legitimate operations, while actually engaging in high-interest lending practices [2][38]. Group 2: Investor Experience - Investors began experiencing withdrawal issues in late September, leading to protests outside the company's office in early November, where they found the office empty [1][8]. - Employees were pressured to meet high performance targets, often resorting to personal loans to invest in the platform, with some investing over 1 million yuan [9][15]. - The company issued a "deferred repayment agreement" in late October, promising to repay investors in installments, which was the last communication received by many investors [10][9]. Group 3: Financial Practices - Qingyun Rental's operations involved a dual model of fundraising and lending, with allegations of using investor funds for high-interest loans rather than legitimate rental activities [3][38]. - The platform's rental rates were significantly higher than market prices, raising questions about the actual demand for its services [35]. - The company reportedly lacked the necessary financial licenses to operate as a lending entity, disguising its activities under the guise of a rental service [38][41]. Group 4: Regulatory and Legal Issues - The company claimed to have a strong backing from state-owned enterprises, which was later revealed to be misleading as the actual connections were tenuous and had been severed [19][29]. - Following the collapse, multiple complaints were filed against Qingyun Rental for high-interest lending and other financial misconduct, prompting police investigations [42][43]. - The company has been listed in the operating anomaly directory, indicating serious regulatory concerns regarding its business practices [32].