52 S'poreans arrested & detained in China for suspected pyramid scheme activities & related offences

A total of 52 Singaporeans have been arrested and detained in Guangxi, China, following a law enforcement operation against suspected pyramid scheme activities and related offences, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Sep. 4, 2026.

MFA said it was informed of the arrests by the Chinese authorities.

Investigations by the Chinese authorities are ongoing.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has contacted its Chinese counterparts to seek more information.

Consular visits

MFA added that it has been engaging the Chinese authorities through the Singapore Embassy in Beijing and the Singapore Consulate-General in Guangzhou.

MFA has conducted consular visits to all 52 Singaporeans to check on their well-being and provide consular assistance.

MFA is also in contact with their next-of-kin.

MFA said: "The Singapore government does not intervene in foreign judicial systems, just as we expect foreign governments to respect our laws and legal process."

"MFA will continue to engage the Chinese authorities and provide consular assistance to the Singaporeans and their families. We will stress that due process should be accorded to the Singaporeans in accordance with Chinese law," the ministry added.

Singaporeans travelling or residing overseas are subject to the laws of the countries they are in, MFA said.

MFA added: "Singaporeans are reminded to exercise caution when invited to take part in schemes involving the recruitment of participants or the upfront payment of substantial sums of money, whether overseas or locally."

Sim Ann, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Home Affairs, told media on Friday:

"In Singapore, MFA officers are in touch with their next of kin, and I have met the family members of most of the detainees. We're doing all we can to help them through an understandably difficult time."

"MFA and the Singapore Police Force are engaging the Chinese authorities to obtain further information on the cases."

"Even as we provide consular assistance to the affected Singaporeans. I would like to emphasise that the Singapore government does not interfere in the judicial process and investigations of other countries, just as we expect foreign governments to respect our laws and legal process."

Background

It was previously reported over a decade ago in July 2017 that pyramid scheme activities have existed in China and the authorities were clamping down on them by making large-scale arrests.

CGTN reported at the time that pyramid schemes were infamous for deceptive fund-raising and relentless pressure on recruited members.

They are run on an outlawed multi-level business model in China that makes illegal profits by entrapping others into the scheme, rather than making investments or selling products, it was also reported.

One scheme in Guangxi has been ongoing since at least 1998, according to an online account of such scams.

To be part of the scheme, the mandatory entry fee for people who join was 69,800 yuan (S$13,171), with a promise of achieving returns that could reach 10.4 million yuan (S$1.96 million) who reach the highest level of the organisation structure.

MFA and SPF did not name the scheme the arrested Singaporeans were allegedly involved in.

However, Guangxi is where the notorious “1040 Sunshine Project” originated from.

It has been referred to as the “Beibu Gulf Development Project” and “Nanning investment scam”.

The scam has even spread to Southeast Asia.

One tactic involves telling participants they are part of a secret and lucrative investment to drum up its exclusivity.

Participants are then isolated from friends and family and brainwashed and lectured on getting rich.

China investigated more than 200,000 cases of pyramid schemes and direct selling violations between 2021 and 2025, according to the State Administration for Market Regulation.

It is an offence to organise or lead pyramid scheme activities in China.

In June 2025, China revised its public security laws so that police can issue fines and short detentions against rank-and-file participants of pyramid schemes.

These participants usually escaped prosecution.

The revisions were effective in January 2026.