Beijing Woman Loses $100,000 to Romance Scammer on Microsoft Teams

A Beijing resident identified by her surname Zhao reported losing over $100,000 to a romance scammer who convinced her that their conversation on Microsoft Teams was legitimate.

The scammer initially contacted Zhao on Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social platform, and then shifted the conversation to Microsoft Teams where he presented himself as a researcher for the tech giant.

He provided credentials for an account that Zhao could use, further convincing her of his legitimacy.

Zhao's experience highlights how scammers can build trust with their victims before making a request for money or investments.