It sounds almost unbelievable: six people sitting at home, casually grabbing WeChat red packets (红包) in a group chat—suddenly found themselves facing criminal charges.

When the police knocked on their door, they were still confused:

“We just抢红包 (snatched red envelopes), how could that be illegal?”

The Backstory

One young man, Xiao Ge, shared his story.

Scrolling through short videos one afternoon, he spotted an enticing ad:

“Easy part-time job:抢红包, earn 100–150 RMB a day.”

The instructions seemed simple:

• Join a WeChat group
• 抢红包 (grab red packets)
• Transfer the money to a designated account
• Keep a 5% commission as your “wage”

It sounded like easy money. Xiao Ge even invited his family to join in. For a few days, everyone felt they had found a “magic money trick.”

But then—WeChat froze their accounts. The money disappeared. And soon after, the police showed up.

The Shocking Twist

Police revealed the truth: Xiao Ge and his family had unknowingly become “money mules” (工具人) for telecom fraud criminals.

By抢红包 and transferring funds, they were helping launder stolen money from scam victims.

They weren’t just playing a game—they were participating in a crime.

Now, all six have been detained on suspicion of “concealing and disguising the proceeds of crime.”

Why This Matters for Expats in China

If you live in China, you’ve probably noticed how common红包 (red packet) culture is—especially on WeChat. But not all红包 are innocent fun.

Police warn that criminals use everyday digital habits—from grabbing红包 to paying utility bills online—to disguise money from scams.

This means:

❌ Renting out your bank account

❌ Joining “easy money”兼职 jobs

❌ Handling cash transfers for strangers

… could all land you in serious legal trouble, even if you thought you were just making pocket money.

How to Stay Safe 

Authorities remind everyone to follow the “Six No’s, One Must”:

1. Don’t trust strange messages
2. Don’t transfer money blindly
3. Don’t share personal info
4. Don’t scan suspicious QR codes
5. Don’t click random links
6. Don’t answer calls that forward elsewhere

And most importantly: Report suspicious activity immediately by calling 110.

For foreigners in China: If someone offers you a strange “side hustle” or invites you to抢红包 for cash—walk away. What seems like a cultural quirk or a fun way to earn a little extra could actually make you a “工具人” in telecom fraud.

So the next time someone says, “Let’s抢个红包 (grab some red envelopes)!”—you might want to ask: Is this celebration… or a crime trap?