A routine chili sauce purchase turned out to be the centerpiece of an elaborate scam when authorities uncovered 70 grams of gold hidden inside a jar that costs less than twenty yuan at any supermarket. The ride-hailing driver tasked with delivering the "goods" was astonished when police officers peeled back the red oil to reveal the precious metal concealed within.

Recently, the Public Security Bureau of Feidong County received an alert from the anti-telecom fraud center indicating that a local resident, identified as Ms. Liu, was currently being targeted by an ongoing telecom scam. The warning noted that she had already arranged for a ride-hailing driver to physically transport gold to the fraudsters. Police immediately activated their interception protocol and tracked down the designated vehicle, stopping it along its route. The driver, caught off guard by the sudden police presence, instinctively shielded the package and protested, insisting, "This belongs to someone else — you can't touch it."

The officers identified themselves on the spot and called Ms. Liu directly, stating firmly, "I'm telling you clearly — you're being scammed, do you understand?" However, Ms. Liu, still trapped in the fraudulent scheme, adamantly claimed the package contained nothing more than condiments and denied any financial loss. Despite repeated warnings from the officers, she evaded their questions, refused to acknowledge the fraud, and remained convinced of the so-called "investment opportunity." Since Ms. Liu was currently out of town, the police brought the driver and the package back to the station to prevent any escalation, and with her consent, they opened the parcel for inspection.

Inside, the package revealed two glass jars of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce, appearing completely ordinary. The curious driver asked, "What if it's not there?" The officers carefully unscrewed the jars and sifted through the bright red chili seasoning, uncovering two gleaming pieces of gold—weighing exactly 70 grams in total. The driver gasped, momentarily speechless, barely able to process what he had unknowingly transported.

After patient persuasion, Ms. Liu finally came to her senses and recognized the truth of the situation. It turned out she had fallen victim to a classic task-based rebate scam. In this type of fraud, perpetrators lure victims with promises of easy commissions on small tasks, allowing them to receive initial payouts to build trust. Then, they gradually encourage larger investments, followed by excuses like "account frozen" or "requires recharge to unlock," prompting victims to purchase gold and ship it offline, claiming that both principal and profits would be returned upon completion. Ms. Liu had unwittingly followed this path, buying 70 grams of gold, concealing it in the sauce jars, and dispatching it via ride-hailing to a designated location. Fortunately, Feidong police acted swiftly and intercepted the gold before it could be transferred.

Authorities have issued a public warning: amid heightened crackdowns on telecom fraud, criminals are increasingly avoiding traceable online transfers and instead using courier services, freight logistics, and in-person pickup to move illicit funds. The goods involved are not limited to cash but also include physical assets like gold and liquor. Citizens are urged to remain vigilant—if anyone requests cash or physical goods to be delivered offline as "payment," exercise extreme caution and contact local law enforcement for assistance when necessary.