There are a large number of fraudulent activities on the Internet. Many are specifically aimed at senior citizens since this group is most susceptible to be fooled and often has largest financial assets. Just to show how sophisticated and clever such activities have become, I’ll give my own example/experience below

I have been writing blogs on ScienceNet since 2007 – total of 17 years. I receive feedbacks on my articles directly on the comment pages of the ScienceNet platform from readers in over 70 countries. This is normal and not surprising. But for the past few years a new phenomena have occurred. On the social media platforms RESEARCH GATE and LINKEDIN,  I receive overwhelming (98% of the time) numbers of inquires with female Chinese names asking to communicate with me and ask questions privately. I typically direct them to particular blog articles of mine where they can get specific instructions on how to search for advice and answers. But once I answered, I’ll get a follow on message which indicates that they did not follow my advice nor wanted to be specific but simply reproduced more enticing requests for private communications with me. At that point I either stops communications or insist they be more specific in their request since I cannot engage in general communication with new readers at my age. Things usually come to a full stop and I hear no more from the sender.

But lately I feel statistically such phenomena cannot be all legitimate. As many of my reader know, my blogs are read by people in 70 different countries of the world and each article average over 2000 reads. Readers also understand I read Chinese with no difficulty and often write to me with messages/comments in Chinese. Nor is my e-mail address any secret and easily available via search.

If they are legitimate names, they can write to me directly. My e-mail address is no secret

How come no messages from rest of the world

Names are probably stolen

Why they never write in Chinese

Personally I know senior Chinese friend who have been scammed out of tens of thousands of US dollars with this type of scam.

On the other hand, there must br legitimate correspondence from real readers who will follow my instruction/advice to further the exchange. But I have not encountered any to my knowledge. Thus to my fellow Chinese senior citizen/scholar/friends. Watch out and be careful with your assets!