Zhi Xiaomeng, a migrant worker residing in Shanghai, thought he won the lottery, only to find out later that he was the latest victim of a common scam. Zhi, 35, said he lost 100,000 yuan (US$12,048) in the scam, most of which he borrowed from his parents.

He received a phone call in March from a woman who claimed to be an employee of the Huifeng Bank, which isn't a real bank, asking for his ID card number and other information. "She said the bank was carrying out a series of promotional campaigns, such as raffles, to prepare for its establishment in Shanghai in August," Zhi said.

He received a second call last Monday from a man claiming to be a manager with the bank. He said Zhi had won 250,000 yuan in a raffle and the money had been deposited into a new account. "I called the inquiry number he provided and confirmed there was 250,000 yuan in an account in my name."

Later that day, Zhi was told to send 17,000 yuan to a designated bank account before he could pick up his winnings.

Zhi paid the money, but instead of receiving his cash, he got another phone call the next day, asking for 90,000 yuan to obtain another prize he won in the raffle. Zhi sent the payment last Wednesday. When he finally realized he had been ripped off, Zhi called police, who refused to discuss the case yesterday.

(Shanghai Daily June 3, 2005)