Women use personal stories to warn against financial scams

"Some organizations have lured the elderly by offering gifts or healthcare services in presentations. They collect money from elderly people and promise them lucrative returns on their investment," Zhao says.

"Many elderly people can't tell which fundraising activities are illegal. Many people who were swindled had decent work before they retired," says Zhao, who had been a senior manager at a Jinan-based motorbike company.

Zhao says her experience is useful in helping the elderly avoid scams. Every time Zhao shares her story, her listeners are shocked.

"We rang a warning bell for those who are on the brink of being swindled and stopped those who were already being scammed from going further," she says.

Wu Zhe, who worked for a Jinan foundation for physically challenged people, says, "Once we arranged for 30 people to attend a class delivered by Zhao's team, but more than 130 came."

Upon hearing Zhao's story, many people waved her brochures in appreciation. "Her true story has influenced them," Wu says.

Supported by the local government, the team has set up branches in more than 80 communities to spread knowledge about illegal fundraising. In addition to brochures, which include moving, real-life victim accounts, the team also delivers their message in numerous ways, even operas, which attract audiences and make the information easier to remember.

"Seniors are a major target in fraud-related cases. The team has helped a lot of seniors to avoid scams," says Geng Hao, who works at the Jinan bureau of financial supervision and administration.

Shandong has established a monitoring and warning system to watch for illegal fundraising. It will play a major role in rooting out illegal activities, Geng says.

Zhao and her teammates, meanwhile, will do their part as long as they are needed.

"We know our stories prevent other people from being swindled," she says.