In recent years, in accordance with the deployment requirements of the Ministry of Public Security, the national public security economic investigation departments have focused on key areas such as "cloud farming economy", agricultural project investment, adoption and seed replacement, and severely cracked down on illegal fund-raising criminal activities carried out in the name of "rural revitalization" and "helping farmers and benefiting farmers" in accordance with the law. They have successfully detected a number of illegal fund-raising criminal cases in the agricultural field, effectively safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of the people, and fully served the high-quality economic and social development. Today, the Economic Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security announced 8 typical cases.
1. A case in which a technology company in Beijing was suspected of illegally absorbing deposits from the public
(Illegal fund-raising in the name of "cloud economy")
In May 2024, the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau filed a case in accordance with the law to investigate a technology company's suspected illegal absorption of public deposits. After investigation, it was found that the company relied on a self-built APP and used the Internet and animal husbandry as a publicity gimmick to publicly promote the "Adopt a Sheep" financial product through the Internet. Investors claim the sheep at a price of 1,000 yuan per sheep, and the company promises to slaughter the sheep after expiration. Investors can choose the mutton in kind or receive an annualized income ranging from 6.6% to 12% based on the sales price. As of the incident, hundreds of millions of yuan in funds had been absorbed, involving more than 10,000 people. At present, the main suspect in the case has been arrested and brought to justice, and the case is in the court trial stage.
2. The case of Fujian Yang Mouzhong and others suspected of illegally absorbing public deposits
(Illegal fund-raising in the name of farmers’ professional cooperative)
In April 2026, the Public Security Bureau of Nanping City, Fujian Province filed a case in accordance with the law to investigate the case of Yang Mouzhong and others suspected of illegally absorbing public deposits. After investigation, Yang Mouzhong and others relied on a certain farmer's professional cooperative that they actually operated. They used the gimmick of "depositing funds in the cooperative to ensure retirement care" and promised an annual return of 12% to attract investment from local villagers, especially the elderly. As of the incident, a total of more than 30 million yuan in funds had been absorbed, involving more than 100 people. At present, Yang Mouzhong and other major criminal suspects have been arrested and brought to justice, and the case has been transferred to the procuratorate for review and prosecution.
3. The case of a Jiangsu farmer mutual aid cooperative illegally absorbing public deposits
(Illegal fund-raising in the name of rural capital mutual aid cooperative)
In July 2025, the Taizhou City Public Security Bureau of Jiangsu Province filed a case in accordance with the law to investigate a farmer's mutual aid cooperative's suspected illegal absorption of public deposits. After investigation, it was found that Mao and others jointly funded and operated the Farmers' Capital Mutual Aid Cooperative, violating the requirements of mutual aid among members and closed operations. They imitated the bank model and openly absorbed funds from the public by paying high interest, conducting over-the-counter operations, and carrying out advertising. As of the incident, a total of more than 50 million yuan in funds had been absorbed, involving more than 200 people. At present, Mao and others have been arrested and brought to justice. In June 2026, the People's Court of Gaogang District, Taizhou City made a guilty verdict against the above-mentioned persons for the crime of illegally absorbing public deposits.
4. Sichuan Li Mourong and others suspected of illegally absorbing public deposits
(Illegal fund-raising in the name of agricultural project investment)
In June 2025, the Public Security Bureau of Luzhou City, Sichuan Province filed a case in accordance with the law to investigate the case of Li Mourong and others suspected of illegally absorbing public deposits. After investigation, Li Mourong and others established an agriculture and animal husbandry development company. They promoted investment in the company's farms, pasture planting and other projects through word of mouth and organized on-site visits to farms and pastures. They promised an annual return of 24%-32% and openly attracted funds from the public. As of the incident, a total of more than 6 million yuan in funds had been absorbed, involving more than 50 people. At present, Li Mourong and other main suspects have been arrested and brought to justice, and the case has been transferred to the procuratorate for review and prosecution.
5. The case of Zhang from Jinan, Shandong, suspected of illegally absorbing deposits from the public
(Illegal fund-raising in the name of "grain deposits")
In January 2025, the Jinan City Public Security Bureau of Shandong Province filed a case in accordance with the law to investigate Zhang Mouzhi and others for allegedly illegally absorbing public deposits. After investigation, Zhang Mouzhi established a grain purchase station and set up 12 grain collection points. By claiming that the money from grain sales could be directly converted into "term deposits" or "deposits" in cash, he promised high annual returns and publicly attracted funds from grain sellers or villagers around the grain collection points by word of mouth. As of the incident, a total of more than 100 million yuan in funds had been absorbed, involving more than 3,000 people. At present, the main suspects such as Zhang Mou have been arrested and brought to justice, and the case has been transferred to the procuratorate for review and prosecution.
6. The case of Jiangsu Mao Agriculture and Forestry Development Company suspected of illegally absorbing deposits from the public
(Illegal fund-raising in the name of "subscription for planting")
In March 2026, the Public Security Bureau of Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province filed a case in accordance with the law to investigate the case of Maomou Agriculture and Forestry Development Company suspected of illegally absorbing public deposits. After investigation, Maoming Agriculture and Forestry Development Company used the gimmick of subscribing sandalwood trees and receiving high interest after the expiration of the term. It announced that it would cooperate with a sandalwood company in Guangxi to plant and adopt a project. It invested 5,000 yuan per tree to subscribe for designated sandalwood trees. After the subscription period expired, it could receive income ranging from 85,000 yuan per tree to 110,000 yuan per tree. It openly attracted funds from the public. As of the incident, a total of more than 9 million yuan in funds had been absorbed, involving more than 30 people. At present, the main suspect in the case has been arrested and the case is under further investigation.
7. The case of an agricultural company in Chongqing Kuo suspected of illegally absorbing public deposits
(Illegal fund-raising in the name of “claim breeding”)
In July 2024, the Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau filed a case in accordance with the law to investigate the case of an agricultural company in Chongqing Kuo suspected of illegally absorbing public deposits. After investigation, it was found that the company used ecological breeding as a gimmick and set up branches in many places. It publicly promoted it by recruiting marketing teams to distribute flyers, setting up pork sales points, organizing dinner draws, and inviting people to visit breeding bases. It promised investors that after adopting pigs, they would pay high returns on a monthly basis and the principal would be returned in full after one year. As of the incident, a total of more than 20 million yuan in funds had been absorbed, involving more than 500 people. At present, the main suspect in the case has been arrested and brought to justice, and the case is in the court trial stage.
8. The case of a forestry development company in Hui, Inner Mongolia, suspected of illegally absorbing public deposits
(Illegal fund-raising in the name of "transfer of forest rights")
In March 2025, the Public Security Bureau of Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, filed a case in accordance with the law to investigate the case of a Huimou Forestry Development Company suspected of illegally absorbing public deposits. After investigation, the company has set up 35 branches across the country. Through various online and offline methods, it uses the transfer of forest rights as a gimmick for management and protection. It signs contracts with investors for the transfer, management and protection of timber forests and forest acquisitions, promising high annual returns and absorbing funds from the public. As of the incident, a total of more than 100 million yuan in funds had been absorbed, involving more than 1,000 people. At present, the main suspect in the case has been arrested and brought to justice, and the case has been transferred to the procuratorate for review and prosecution.
Police tip:
Currently, illegal fund-raising crimes are common in the agriculture-related field. The criminal methods have been renovated and the routines have been upgraded, making it difficult to identify. It took a thousand days to get rich, but was deceived into nothing. Identify the following "keywords" and guard your "money bag".
Guaranteed capital and high interest rates: Promising “zero risk, high returns” and “guaranteed profits without losing money”, claiming that the interest rates are much higher than bank interest rates. There is no pie in the sky, there is a trap behind high interest rates.
Matchmaking with acquaintances: Build relationships through acquaintances such as relatives and friends to reduce defensiveness. An introduction from an acquaintance does not mean a reliable guarantee, and project qualifications should be verified before investing.
Policy packaging: Using the names of "rural revitalization" and "farmer-benefiting subsidies", forging official documents and official seals, and using official projects to defraud trust. Any request for advance investment in the name of agricultural policy is unofficial and should be verified through formal channels.
Visits to build momentum: Organize visits to planting and breeding bases, grain purchasing stations, and processing plants, or create the illusion of strength by organizing travel dinners, giving gifts, etc. Seeing may not be believing, the venue may be rented.
Underwriting trap: Using "guaranteed profit from underwriting sales" and "recycling at high prices" as bait, sell seedlings and agricultural materials at high prices, or use this to absorb funds. Formal order farming is based on quality, price, risk sharing, and promises of high-price recovery and repurchase. These are typical scams, so be careful.
Urging to grab orders: Claiming "limited quota" and "limited time offer" create a tense atmosphere to urge money. The more you push, the more calm you have to be.
