--- title: Chinese-Language Robocall Scam | Hiya description: A Chinese-language robocall scam in Canada preys on vulnerable citizens. Learn how the scam works and how to protect against fraud calls. image: https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/shutterstock_1977739613%20(1).jpg --- [![Hiya logo](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/hiya-new-purple.svg)](https://www.hiya.com/) Solutions Solutions [For Mobile Operators Protect your network](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/operators) [For Businesses Brand your calls](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/businesses) [For People Get the mobile app](https://www.hiya.com/products/apps/hiya-spam-blocker) ###### Webinar Branded Calling 101 Weekly Webinar Make your company's calls more recognizable. Learn how Hiya can drive value for your business. 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Here’s an example from Hiya’s honeypot, which captures transcripts of calls received by Hiya-owned phone numbers:   *“Chinese Embassy voice notification: You have an important notice that you have not received. Please press 9 for inquiries.”* ##### **Many variations of Chinese-language scams** The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has [warned citizens](https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/scams-fraudes/extortion-extorsion-eng.htm#a11) that the Asian community in Canada is being targeted with automated calls claiming to have an urgent message. They say the calls can be very intimidating and threatening, impersonating agencies such as the Chinese Consulate, the Beijing Police, or a delivery agency. The Anti-Fraud Center lists several variations, including:   - Customs stopped a suspicious package containing many bank cards and you are the subject of an investigation. - There are fraudulent funds in your account and we need your banking information to verify. - You must visit this police website to verify your identity and provide a copy of your passport.   ##### **Reports from Hiya users** Hiya analyzes user reports from consumers using [Hiya Protect](https://www.hiya.com/products/protect) via their carrier, device manufacturer, or the Hiya mobile app. Here is a sampling of what users are saying:   ***“Scam caller pretending to be Chinese Embassy in Canada.”***   ***“A recorded voice informed me the Chinese Embassy is going to cancel my visa because my entry and exit are abnormal.”***   ***“Voice recording from Chinese Embassy to pick up important documents. The caller is a fraud and scam.” ***   ##### Millions lost to scams These scams are more than just annoying. News reports from Canada reveal that Canadians who speak Chinese are being swindled out of significant sums of money.  CBC, Canada’s national public broadcaster, [reported](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/chinese-residents-scam-wrps-1.6560779) in August that 12 Chinese post-secondary students in Waterloo were scammed out of $1.76 million by fraudsters impersonating law enforcement officers or courier companies. An officer from Waterloo’s financial crimes unit said that students are more vulnerable to the scam because they are isolated from family members and close relatives in their home country.  Chinese-language scams are not new, nor are they confined to Canada. In 2018, the US Federal Trade Commission posted [an alert](https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2018/04/scammers-impersonate-chinese-consulate) on its website warning citizens to beware of scammers impersonating the Chinese Consulate. Later that year, the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs published a [blog post](https://www.mass.gov/news/received-a-call-from-the-chinese-embassy-youre-not-alone) saying that the Chinese Embassy scam was on the rise in Massachusetts. “If you answer and don’t speak the language, then chances are you’ll hang up,” said the blog post. “But for those who speak Chinese, this scam can be very scary.” ##### How to protect against scam calls Carriers can add [Hiya Protect](https://www.hiya.com/products/protect), a complete call protection solution that enables carriers to protect their subscribers by blocking and labeling spam calls and helping them identify wanted calls. Hiya Protect recently added [Personal Call Filtering](https://www.hiya.com/products/personal-ai), formerly known as Personal AI, which personalizes call protection to individual subscribers so they receive the calls that are important to them and are protected from targeted attacks. With [Hiya Connect](https://www.hiya.com/products/connect), enterprises can improve customer engagement and loyalty while protecting their customers from deceitful interactions.Individuals can check with their phone carrier to see if it offers any spam/scam-blocking capabilities. If not, ask your carrier to consider adding Hiya Protect. [![banner-hiya-reg](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/banner-hiya-reg.jpg)](https://www.hiya.com/products/connect/number-registration) ### Latest Articles ⚡️ - Hiya awarded 16 G2 Summer 2026 badges for branded caller ID Lena Prickett Jul. 9, 2026 - How Canada is leading the fight to stop bank scams Stephanie Boulanger Jun. 26, 2026 - How to check phone numbers for spam labels Michelle Wallace Jun. 9, 2026 ## Related articles ![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/rogers-toronto-event-blog-hero.webp) ## [How Canada is leading the fight to stop bank scams](https://blog.hiya.com/how-canada-is-leading-the-fight-to-stop-bank-scams?hsLang=en) Stephanie Boulanger Jun. 26, 2026 ![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/Blog_How-to-check-phone-numbers-for-spam-labels_B.webp) ## [How to check phone numbers for spam labels](https://blog.hiya.com/how-to-check-phone-numbers-for-spam-labels?hsLang=en) Michelle Wallace Jun. 9, 2026 ![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/Hiya%20x%20DNA-blog@2x.webp) ## [Hiya and DNA Finland launch network-level call protection](https://blog.hiya.com/hiya-and-dna-finland-launch-network-level-call-protection?hsLang=en) Stephanie Boulanger Jun. 2, 2026 [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/hiya-new-purple.svg)](https://www.hiya.com/) [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/linkedin-1.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiyainc) [![](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/facebook-1.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/hiyainc/) ###### Products - Connect - [Number Registration](https://www.hiya.com/products/connect/number-registration) - [Branded Call](https://www.hiya.com/products/connect/branded-call) - [View Plans](https://www.hiya.com/products/connect/pricing) - Protect - [Spam Analytics](https://www.hiya.com/products/protect/spam-analytics) - [AI Voice Detection](https://www.hiya.com/products/protect/ai-voice-detection) - Apps - [Hiya Spam Blocker](https://www.hiya.com/products/apps/hiya-spam-blocker) - [Hiya AI Phone](https://www.hiya.com/products/apps/hiya-ai-phone) ###### Solutions - Company size - [Enterprise](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/enterprise) - [Call Centers](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/call-center) - [Small and Medium](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/businesses) - Service providers - [Operators](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/operators) - [OEMs and technology](https://www.hiya.com/solutions/technology-partners) ###### Considering Hiya? - [Why Hiya](https://www.hiya.com/why-hiya) - [How it Works](https://www.hiya.com/how-it-works) - [Customer Stories](https://www.hiya.com/case-studies) - [Voice Intelligence Platform](https://www.hiya.com/why-hiya/voice-intelligence-platform) - [Trust Center](https://www.hiya.com/why-hiya/trust-center) - [Modern Slavery](https://www.hiya.com/company/modern-slavery) - [About Hiya](https://www.hiya.com/company/about) - [Careers: We're hiring!](https://www.hiya.com/company/careers) - [Contact us](https://www.hiya.com/contact-us) ###### Resources - [Resource Center](https://www.hiya.com/resources) - [Partner Program](https://partners.hiya.com/) - [Get Support](https://hiya.com/support) - [Developer Docs](https://developer.hiya.com/) - [Hiya Blog](https://hiya.com/blog) - [Events](https://www.hiya.com/events) - [Press Kit](https://www.hiya.com/newsroom#press-kit) ![ANAB](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/logo-anab.svg) ![ISO 27001](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/logo-iso27017.png) ![AICPA](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/logo-aicpa.svg) ![IAF](https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/logo-iaf.svg) [Privacy Policy](https://www.hiya.com/legal/privacy) [Terms of Service](https://www.hiya.com/legal/terms-of-service) [App Data Privacy Policy](https://www.hiya.com/legal/app-data-protection-and-privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Hiya Team", "url" : "https://blog.hiya.com/author/hiya-team" }, "dateModified" : "2025-10-08T15:24:32.015Z", "datePublished" : "2023-03-28T20:30:00.000Z", "headline" : "Chinese-Language Robocall Scam | Hiya", "image" : [ "https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/shutterstock_1977739613%20(1).jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.hiya.com/chinese-language-robocall-scam-in-canada", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.hiya.com/hubfs/hiya-logo-3.svg" }, "name" : "Hiya Inc." } } ```