成都警方破获“中医养生馆”骗局

Core Viewpoint - A criminal gang in Chengdu has been targeting the elderly by using a "traditional Chinese medicine clinic" as a front to illegally solicit public deposits, resulting in over 3,500 elderly victims and more than 36 million yuan in fraudulent funds [3][4][7]. Group 1: Criminal Activities - The gang used free foot baths and egg giveaways to lure elderly individuals into investing in health and wellness services [3][4]. - They engaged in fraudulent activities such as issuing fake medical prescriptions, creating false hospitalization records, and misusing national health insurance funds [4][5]. - The investigation revealed that over 2,700 individuals had false hospitalization records, and more than 1,000 had their outpatient insurance funds fraudulently accessed, amounting to approximately 15 million yuan [4][7]. Group 2: Investment Scheme - The gang established a multi-tiered membership system, with fees ranging from 120 yuan for basic membership to higher tiers promising monthly returns of 3% (annualized 36%) on investments [7][8]. - The scheme initially paid out returns to create a false sense of security among the elderly, funded by both fraudulent health insurance claims and new member fees [7][8]. - The largest individual investment reported was over 1.2 million yuan, with some victims being over 80 years old [8]. Group 3: Legal Actions - Eleven suspects, including key figures in the gang, have been prosecuted for fraud and illegal public deposit solicitation [9].