On October 28, 2024, more than ten victims represented by lawyers Li Peng and Zhang Ruiqiao from Gaopeng (Shanghai) Law Firm were involved in a criminal case of fundraising fraud. After more than two months of unremitting persistence and efforts by the handling lawyers, the case was successfully filed by a district branch of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau.

Notice of Filing

In August 2024, more than 10 investors from Shanghai and Kunshan consulted the Li Peng legal team of Gaopeng (Shanghai) Law Firm regarding investment fraud. The parties stated that a technology company in Shanghai publicly announced its investment in bird's nest and other projects in Southeast Asia, and invited investors as "partners" to achieve excess returns in the short term. After multiple "investment" presentations, the parties involved, succumbing to the temptation of high returns, transferred millions of yuan to a technology company in Shanghai. However, the technology company stopped refunding after just two months, and relevant personnel absconded with the funds, causing the millions of yuan "investment funds" to fly away without a trace. There are also other investors spread throughout Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai and other places.

After consultation, the handling lawyer believes that this case is not a simple civil investment dispute. A technology company in Shanghai, without the approval of relevant departments in accordance with the law or by borrowing legal forms of operation to absorb funds, publicly promoted it to the society through media, promotion meetings, telephone calls, and other channels, promising to repay principal and interest in monetary form or pay returns within a certain period of time, and absorb funds from unspecified targets in society. Its behavior has four characteristics: illegality, openness, inducement, and sociality, and the amount involved is enormous. According to Article 192 of the Criminal Law, investors are suspected of committing fundraising fraud and are advised to report to the public security organs.

Considering the professionalism of criminal charges and the fact that many of the parties involved are retired workers, lawyers Li Peng and Zhang Ruiqiao have been entrusted to act as representatives of investors to file criminal charges on their behalf. After accepting the commission, the handling lawyer quickly conducted in-depth analysis of the case and guided investors to provide relevant materials. Due to the wide geographical distribution of investors, lack of signed investment contracts, and complex flow of funds, the handling lawyer had multiple communications with each investor to gain a detailed understanding of the process of participating in the investment and being deceived. They helped investors organize the flow of funds and formed written complaint materials.

After collecting and organizing evidence from each investor, the handling lawyer compiled a complete set of criminal charges and submitted it to a public security bureau in a certain district of Shanghai. After multiple communications with the public security handling personnel, the public security organs recognized the agent's criminal charges and launched an investigation into a suspected fundraising fraud case involving a technology company in Shanghai.

Next, the handling lawyer will continue to follow up on this case and strive to assist investors in recovering their losses as soon as possible.