US worried by rise in ‘foreigner butchering’ scams from China

WASHINGTON – The US is increasingly concerned at the emergence of “foreigner butchering” scams allegedly being run from China, adding another potential wrinkle to President Donald Trump’s planned meeting with Xi Jinping in the coming months. The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which monitors and advises Congress on national security issues in US-China ties, said recent crackdowns on scam centres in countries like Cambodia had seen Chinese criminals return home to start smaller-scale operations targeting only foreigners. “We’ve seen the numbers grow,” Vice-Chair Michael Kuiken said in an interview. Asked if the issue should be on the agenda for…