to Long-Dragon:

unfortunately we have no believe in the actual project as we are pretty certain it's a scam.. (according to my last post)

Dear Jenna,

so sorry i missed your post!
Unfortunately we are already away from Kunming and back in Europe.

If you can still help us to file a complaint, would be great!

I just want to do something rather than nothing (to make this world at least a BIT better place)

I'll send you all documents by email, that they have sent me so far.

Thank you!!

My apologies. I didn't mean your rambling. I meant other people's rambling based on assumptions. That's why I asked for more clear information so people can give solid advice instead of clogging up a thread.

Not on time, but maybe useful for others too.
Regarding identity theft. That's lesson 101 in China. First signs of a scam: you get contacted out of the blue and it sounds too good to be true. I'm sorry you got scammed.

Different ways to fight identity theft on this kind of projects (I'd exploit all!)
1) contact the official company with the names of the persons and project name, ask to speak the person in charge. (Use a Chinese speaker if you have to) if there is a meeting scheduled, ask if it is possible to move the meeting date. Make up an excuse (strike air Paris airport... again). See how they react. (I.e.: meeting? What meeting?)
2) Contact a local person to go and meet this company. Present a small gift. See if their office is real.
3) Ask them to send information / sketches / plan of the land to you only a real legit design / development company can supply you with.
4) (my suggestion of most reliable) if you actually do get the plans of the land, government approval / government contract, elevation maps, lot allocation, etc., work backwards, you contact the government in that district and inquire which company is developing it. Contact the company, contact the department, contact the person in charge. Then discuss the project and meeting. If they are oblivious and don't know the damage is done to the scam.

Is it easy? Nope. Another way I like is just contact a lawyer to find out. Local lawyers know all the scams. It's their job to know. A brief investigation is cheaper than getting scammed. They also have the ability to contact government, dig in registries, development plans, land ownership, and check their local guts (and colleagues).

Our company and other companies too I know don't require gifts to get a project. We look for skill, quality and integrity. Do we exchange gifts, sure, we usually drink them during dinner (if you get my point). Gifts, project allocation / participation fees, etc, do exist, but are often used in actual construction projects, rather than design and decoration. Those fees work like an "investment deposit and insurance" too) and are also used to check if you have the funds to allocate to a large scale real-estate development project. (They don't want a supplier to run out of money, stalling their construction). I mean, you have seen the scale of the projects in China with your own eyes. Try coughing up that amount of money needed. Also, a respected company wouldn't want a foreigner to bring gifts (it's a Chinese custom, and it are their contacts, not yours). They would provide gifts for the meetings if you went to them together. Not make you buy them as you don't know the customs. You could buy a gift that is offending, damaging their image.

To keep thread active, i found someone else who have been scammed, i assume by the same group.

So far, we haven't got anybody who can help us, at least to do something.

As we're not in China anymore, it makes pretty easy to proceed with the scam, foreigners are returning their home countries and can't do anything about the fraud. Just sad.

Dear Decieved,
We and others, I think, have offered to help you investigate these guys. If someone wishs to help you out of the goodness of their hearts great.We are not the police or your government agency. Contact us again if you want our help.

The police have arrested guys like these in Kunming in the past. I have see this on public TV here regarding the minerals industry.

You need to partner with a legitimate Chinese licensed organization in your business in China. Even the big guys do this.

to Long-Dragon:

most of people suggested to hire a lawyer, but for that amount that we've lost, doesn't make much sense.

My main wish would be report to somewhere, China might be corrupted, but there's should be at least some kind of organization who is dealing with scams, internet frauds etc., like in the rest of the world.

Response that as we're not in China, therefore can't do anything, doesn't satisfy me, this subject needs to be shared that more people won't fall for the same scam.

Scammed in China?, what a novelty! "welcome to China" China is the country of thieves par excellence. Only have you to go to any restaurant or shop and all chinese they want cheat to you only because you is a foreigner.

And if you tell them something, they start to laugh and jeer of you.

What do yo want do with your problem? go to the police? When you turn half back, they will do the same.

@lady25: "all chinese" (SIC)? In my opinion your comment is both mistaken and ridiculous. You paint with a broad poorly wielded brush and I get the impression your real target is foreigners. Few expats think "all" Chinese so terrible as you say. Even fewer are so dumb to put it the way you do.

@lady25: 'any restaurant or shop'? I am a foreigner and it doesn't happen to me. Indicates it perhaps has something to do with you.