Hong Kong's "Good Citizen Award 2023 Award Ceremony" was held on March 17, and a total of 80 citizens won the award.

Among them, the oldest "good citizen" is Li Zhongmei, an 84-year-old retired grandmother in Hong Kong.

The scene of Hong Kong's "Good Citizen Award 2023 Award Ceremony".

Photo by China News Service reporter Dai Xiaolu

A "big boy" fell from the sky

　　In an interview with a reporter from China News Service that day, Li Zhongmei recalled that in November 2022, she received a call from a scammer who falsely claimed to be her son. The other party said that he had just changed his mobile phone number and asked Li Zhongmei to call him back.

Li Zhongmei said that she often listened to the radio and read newspapers, and learned a lot of anti-fraud information, so she was alert in advance. Moreover, her "son" spoke with an accent on the phone, and she immediately realized that she had encountered a scammer.

"Many scammers like to deceive the elderly. They defraud tens of thousands of dollars at a time, and they defraud all the coffins."

　　After confirming that this was not her son, Li Zhongmei simply used the trick and pretended to be deceived on the phone. She first lied that she did not have a mobile phone, and then complained to her "son" that she needed a mobile phone when going out to eat during the epidemic, and asked her "son" to give it to her. Buy one, and the "son" verbally agrees and immediately hangs up the phone.

"Good citizen" Li Zhongmei was interviewed by a reporter from China News Service.

Photo by China News Service reporter Dai Xiaolu

Anti-fraud is not easy

　　Unexpectedly, only three days later, the scammer called Li Zhongmei again, falsely claiming that she was detained at the police station and urgently needed a bail of HK$50,000.

Li Zhongmei said that she first asked the other party why he was arrested. The liar said that he committed the crime because he was drunk. As long as he paid the bail, the criminal record would be eliminated, and a friend would ask Li Zhongmei to withdraw money for him.

　　Li Zhongmei came up with a plan. She lied that she had no cash at home, and the scammer immediately asked her to go to the bank to withdraw money. He also thoughtfully told her how to respond to the bank staff's inquiries. Li Zhongmei pretended to agree, asked the scammer to do business in a restaurant, and then hung up the phone. Call the police immediately.

　　Li Zhongmei mentioned that she went to the appointment at the appointed time with banknotes and props prepared by the police. Soon after, a suspect wearing a white coat arrived. When the suspect was withdrawing money, the police who had ambushed in advance arrested the suspect on the spot. The suspect was later sentenced He was found guilty of obtaining property by deception and sentenced to a labor camp.

　　Li Zhongmei said that she was actually a little scared when she met the scammer. Fortunately, she was wearing a mask at the time, and the police also arranged for someone to ambush the scene, so she still calmly dealt with the scammer and helped the police catch the scammer smoothly.

　　In fact, this is not the first time Li Zhongmei has dealt with scammers in this way. She has received similar scam calls before, and she will call the police promptly every time.

"We cannot always be deceived by scammers, we must also let the scammers taste the feeling of being deceived." Regarding this award, Li Zhongmei said that she felt very honored. She called on the public to stay vigilant at all times and call the police if they encounter scammers.

　　"Many of my students said that seeing me win the award many years after graduation felt like they were sitting in class and listening to my lectures again." Li Zhongmei said with a smile.

It turns out that before retiring, Li Zhongmei was a teacher at Pui Dao Primary School in Hong Kong and also served as the academic director.

After retirement, she did not want to stay idle at home, so she "re-employed" at the age of 75 and became a special actor. She can be seen in popular film and television dramas such as "Love Comes Home", "Stuntman" and "Rebirth of the Martial Arts". to her figure.

Li Zhongmei said that she became a special actor because she wanted to get addicted to dramas. This award-winning experience may also become the subject of TV dramas in the future. She enjoys this job very much. From time to time, she will also share behind-the-scenes photos of dramas on her social account. .

　　Reporter Dai Xiaolu

　　Source: China News Service WeChat official account