Case Study: The "High Price" Trap

1. The Scenario A merchant started trading with "User B," who claimed to run a blockchain education business needing 500k–1m CNY in USDT daily. User B guaranteed the funds were clean.

2. The Red Flags (Suspicious Patterns)

Above-Market Pricing: User B agreed to buy at 0.1 CNY above market price. (Ask yourself: Why would anyone pay extra if their money was clean?)
Fixed Schedule: Trades happened daily like clockwork (e.g., 15:00–17:00).
Rapid Dissipation: To avoid tracking, User B would immediately convert the USDT into BTC/ETH and withdraw it off-platform.

3. The Consequences After one month of trading (over 10 million CNY total), police discovered User B was part of a money laundering ring.

Arrested: The merchant was Arrested by cross-jurisdictional authorities for aiding money laundering.
Total Freeze: All personal bank accounts, Alipay, and even family members' accounts were frozen.
Detention: The merchant remained in criminal detention for several months.

Risk Analysis (Why was this suspicious?)

Fixed Trading Schedule Trades happened daily during specific time slots with the same person, and volumes were always similar. (Legitimate retail trading is typically sporadic. Only corporate payouts or money laundering operations run on a tight schedule to avoid detection.)
The "Quick Escape" (Hiding the Trail)

Buy USDT → Instant Convert (to BTC/ETH) → Immediate Withdrawal.

(Normal users usually keep funds for a while or trade different coins. They don't just "Launder and exit.)

Abnormal Price Premiums Transactions were consistently executed at prices significantly above market rates.

Key Takeaways for Merchants

Avoid Single-Source Dependency: Do not conduct high-frequency, large-volume trades with the same user over a long period.
Beware of High Premiums: High premiums are a major red flag for illicit funds (Illicit funds). Remember: If a price looks "too good to be true," it is almost certainly a trap.

Case 2: The USDT Money Mule Scam

How it Works (Being a "Mule") Criminals use your personal accounts to move dirty money.

The Trick: They break large illegal funds into small chunks and send them through many people's accounts (like yours) to hide from the police. You become the tool they use to wash money.

Case Study: The "Deposit Agent" Offer

A merchant was approached by an offshore gambling platform offering high fees (above market rates) to help "top up" accounts for their users.

The Deal: "Just receive money and send us USDT. You keep the extra profit."

The Reality

You are not a "business partner" — you are the entry point for a money laundering chain.

The Consequence: Participating in this (even if you didn't know) makes you an accomplice. You face jail time and the confiscation of all your assets.

Risk Warning

Don't Be a Tool: Reject all requests to help others transfer funds or "Facilitate transfers"
Golden Rule: If a deal offers easy money for simple transfers, it is 100% a scam.

Case 3: Spotting Abnormal Behavior

Red Flags (Watch out for these) Be alert if a user does the following (these are strong signs of money laundering):

Trading Too Often: Completing 3 or more trades within 24 hours.
Quick Flipping: Buying and then selling almost immediately ("Buy → Wait a bit → Sell").

What You Should Do

Monitor: Keep an eye on transaction frequency and where the funds are going.
Report: If you see something weird, report it to ETZ immediately.

Golden Rules for Safety

1. Don't Rely on One Partner Don't stick to just one client for high-volume trading. Build a network of different partners to spread your risk.

2. Reject High Premiums Prioritize safety over profit. If a price looks "too good to be true," it is likely a trap. Refuse these trades.

3. Stay Alert Set up your own checks to catch suspicious patterns early.

4. Follow Regulations Cooperate with regulatory requirements to help keep the industry safe for everyone.

(Note: The cases above are based on real-world events; specific details have been anonymized.)

Preventing Involvement in Illicit Funds?

Preventing Involvement in Illicit Funds?