World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
China warns of illegal fundraising schemes disguised as farm investments
China’s Ministry of Public Security has highlighted eight illegal fundraising cases tied to agriculture and forestry.
The cases involved schemes in several parts of China that presented investments as livestock raising, crop planting, grain deposits or forestry rights.
Operators promised returns, sometimes high or guaranteed, to attract members of the public to hand over money.
One livestock scheme drew more than 10,000 investors and collected hundreds of millions of yuan, according to the police summary.
The cases show how familiar farming activities and official-sounding development goals can be used to make risky investments seem trustworthy.
Police warned people to check project credentials and be cautious of high returns, pressure to invest quickly, or introductions through friends and family.
Some suspects have been convicted, while other cases are at trial, under investigation or awaiting prosecutors’ review.
China’s Ministry of Public Security has published eight cases of suspected illegal fundraising schemes presented as agricultural or rural investment projects.
The schemes used pitches including sheep or livestock adoption, farm investments, grain deposits and tree planting, and promised high returns.
Across the eight cases, authorities reported funds raised ranging from several million yuan to more than 100 million yuan, and affected groups ranging from dozens to more than 10,000 people.
Police said the schemes often used promises of guaranteed high returns, personal referrals and organized visits to farms or other sites to attract investors.
The cases were at different stages, including court proceedings, prosecution review and ongoing investigations.
- Who
- China’s Ministry of Public Security’s economic crime investigation bureau released the cases. Police identified companies and individuals suspected of running the schemes.
- What
- Authorities published eight examples of suspected illegal fundraising disguised as agricultural or rural investment.
- When
- The cases were reported from 2024 to 2026. The bureau published them on November 4, 2026.
- Where
- The cases were investigated in several parts of China, including Beijing, Fujian, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Shandong, Chongqing and Inner Mongolia.
- Why
- Police said the cases aimed to raise money from the public under the guise of agriculture, rural development or related projects.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Beijing police opened an investigation into a company accused of raising money through a sheep-adoption investment product.
Jinan police opened an investigation into a grain-buying station accused of taking funds as purported deposits.
Luzhou police opened an investigation into an agricultural company accused of soliciting investment in livestock and forage projects.
A court in Taizhou convicted people involved in a farmers’ mutual-fund cooperative case.
The Ministry of Public Security’s economic crime investigation bureau published eight typical cases and issued a warning about agricultural-sector fundraising schemes.
- Cases published
- 8
- Beijing sheep-adoption case
- More than 10,000 people; funds worth several hundred million yuan
- Fujian cooperative case
- More than 30 million yuan raised; more than 100 people involved
- Shandong grain-deposit case
- More than 100 million yuan raised; more than 3,000 people involved
- Inner Mongolia forestry case
- 35 branches nationwide; more than 100 million yuan raised
1 source
What people are saying
High interest behind the promise is a trap.
A referral from someone you know is not a reliable guarantee.
The more they rush you, the calmer you should be.