Practical legal situations · Shenzhen
Police, fraud and crime
Start with safety and prompt reporting, then identify your role and the procedure being used.
General information for mainland Shenzhen. These are illustrative examples, not reported judgments or personal legal advice. Hong Kong and Macao have separate systems.
I sent money to an online scam
A seller, investment contact or supposed official asks for another payment after money has already gone.
What to do first
- Stop sending money and end remote-control or screen-sharing access. Report the suspected fraud to 110 promptly.
- Contact your bank or payment service through its independently verified app or number; ask about urgent account and transaction controls.
- Keep original chats and transaction records. Give police the recipient account, amount and time; request the report receipt.
Police handle the suspected offence; the bank/payment service handles its controls. Reporting or a stop-payment request does not guarantee recovery.
A mistake to avoid
Do not pay a “release”, “tax” or “recovery” fee, or transfer money to a caller’s “police safe account”.
Get help promptly when…
Money has just been sent, further transactions are happening, or someone still has access to your account or device.
Records to keep3 useful records
- Transaction references, recipient account and payment times
- Original messages, profile identifiers and website/app details
- Police receipt and bank/payment-service incident reference
Use records already safely and lawfully available. Do not delay urgent help or expose yourself or a child to danger to collect documents.
Official sources and legal basis
- Shenzhen Police: reporting a scam ↗
Police reminder, 10 August 2026: report to 110; preserve chats and transfer records.
- Shenzhen Police: fake police and “safe accounts” ↗
Official fraud explanation, 10 October 2023; impersonated police/prosecutors/courts and transfers to purported safe accounts.
- Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law ↗
Arts 18–20 (payment risk controls and police-led urgent stop-payment/freezing mechanisms), 27 (police investigation). Effective 1 December 2022.
- Police criminal-case procedure rules ↗
Arts 169–173 (reports, evidence lists and acceptance receipt); 206, 210–212 (records and witness/victim questioning); 362, 368–370 (foreign suspect interpretation, PRC counsel and consular arrangements). 2020 amendment. PDF printed pp 91–92, 110–114, 180–183 inspected.
Links and relevant provisions checked 21 October 2026. English and Spanish are editorial translations; consult the official Chinese text.
Police ask me to attend or answer questions
You receive a police contact or are taken for questioning. Witness questioning, a summons and detention are different procedures.
What to do first
- If contacted remotely, verify through an official number. Ask the unit, your role and what summons or detention measure applies.
- Request interpretation if needed. A criminal suspect may appoint PRC defence counsel from the first interrogation or compulsory measure; this does not guarantee counsel’s presence at every interview.
- Give accurate facts. Have the record read/interpreted and request corrections before signing; keep notices and note times when lawfully possible.
Clarify the actual measure with the handling unit; if a criminal suspect, seek defence/legal-aid guidance. Foreign-national consular arrangements are a separate question.
A mistake to avoid
Do not sign a record as accurate when you cannot understand it or have identified an uncorrected error.
Get help promptly when…
You are detained, cannot understand the procedure, need medical care, or are asked to sign immediately without an understood record.
Records to keep3 useful records
- Issued summons, detention or other written notices
- Unit/officer details and a timeline of contact and attendance
- Existing records relevant to the events, kept without alteration
Use records already safely and lawfully available. Do not delay urgent help or expose yourself or a child to danger to collect documents.
Official sources and legal basis
- Criminal Procedure Law ↗
Arts 9 (interpretation), 34–36 (defence/legal-aid and duty-lawyer arrangements), 39 (lawyer meetings), 85 (criminal detention), 110–113 (reporting/review), 119–122 (summons, questioning and record corrections). Official text includes the 2018 amendment.
- Police criminal-case procedure rules ↗
Arts 169–173 (reports, evidence lists and acceptance receipt); 206, 210–212 (records and witness/victim questioning); 362, 368–370 (foreign suspect interpretation, PRC counsel and consular arrangements). 2020 amendment. PDF printed pp 91–92, 110–114, 180–183 inspected.
- Public-security punishments law: 2025 revision ↗
2025 revision; arts 3 and 8 (criminal/public-security distinction and separate civil liability), 96–101 (summons/questioning, record corrections and interpretation), 115 (written penalty decision), 144 (effective 1 January 2026). Full clauses directly inspected. SAMR corroboration: https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/bgt/art/2025/art_8a1c722747214869b28c0ad7a0f8bb7a.html .
- Shenzhen Police: fake police and “safe accounts” ↗
Official fraud explanation, 10 October 2023; impersonated police/prosecutors/courts and transfers to purported safe accounts.
Links and relevant provisions checked 21 October 2026. English and Spanish are editorial translations; consult the official Chinese text.
My property was stolen or I was assaulted
An incident has caused loss, injury or an ongoing threat. Immediate safety comes before recovering belongings or collecting records.
What to do first
- Move away from danger if possible. Call 110 for police; call 120 for a medical emergency.
- Report a concise, factual timeline and location. Tell police about witnesses or nearby cameras; ask for the acceptance receipt.
- Keep existing medical/property records and preserve the scene when safe. Ask police what further examination or evidence is needed.
Police determine the applicable criminal or public-security route. Ask separately how any loss or injury claim should be pursued.
A mistake to avoid
Do not chase or confront the suspect to recover property or obtain an admission.
Get help promptly when…
The threat is ongoing, an injury needs urgent care, or someone is being followed or cannot reach safety.
Records to keep3 useful records
- Medical records and injury images already safely available
- Property identifiers, purchase records and loss list
- Known witness/camera locations and police receipt
Use records already safely and lawfully available. Do not delay urgent help or expose yourself or a child to danger to collect documents.
Official sources and legal basis
- Shenzhen Police: 110 and 120 emergency routes ↗
Public-safety guidance, 9 February 2026: 110 police, 120 medical emergencies; report crime while ensuring personal safety.
- Police criminal-case procedure rules ↗
Arts 169–173 (reports, evidence lists and acceptance receipt); 206, 210–212 (records and witness/victim questioning); 362, 368–370 (foreign suspect interpretation, PRC counsel and consular arrangements). 2020 amendment. PDF printed pp 91–92, 110–114, 180–183 inspected.
- Public-security punishments law: 2025 revision ↗
2025 revision; arts 3 and 8 (criminal/public-security distinction and separate civil liability), 96–101 (summons/questioning, record corrections and interpretation), 115 (written penalty decision), 144 (effective 1 January 2026). Full clauses directly inspected. SAMR corroboration: https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/bgt/art/2025/art_8a1c722747214869b28c0ad7a0f8bb7a.html .
Links and relevant provisions checked 21 October 2026. English and Spanish are editorial translations; consult the official Chinese text.
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Use the law hub to compare official routes and prepare a useful first consultation.
Illustrative guidance edited by LifeShenzhen from the linked official sources. Requirements and outcomes depend on the facts, current procedure and individual legal assessment.