# The Worst Scam Victim I Know

**A fellow student from the same school** - a small-town top test-taker, intelligent and kind-hearted.

Associate Professor at a Top 7 Australian university, already had PR, wife already naturalized.

Returned to China in 2018, recruited by a university in central-southern China through their talent acquisition program.

The deal offered: 1 million yuan in research startup funds, 250,000 yuan resettlement allowance, 200,000 yuan annual salary.

They promised tenure after a three-year probation period.

The school needed academic leaders, painted a grand picture—said he could establish an independent research center, integrate production, education, and research.

I helped him investigate back then.

Felt the uncertainty was too great—the school had weak foundations in his field.

The Australian side had stable platforms, stable output, and professorship was within reach.

In China's academic circles, it's all about connections and seniority.

But he got completely fooled by the talent center leadership.

Thought he was irreplaceable, could break new ground, become a Yangtze River Scholar, bring glory to his family.

Went back to China alone to build his career.

Discovered there were too many obstacles.

The 1 million in startup funds wasn't given all at once—required layers of approval.

Follow-up funding had to come from applying for national grants himself.

Both undergrad and PhD done abroad, no connections domestically—forget about industrial projects.

A year back, the lab still wasn't built, couldn't conduct research.

2019 pandemic hit, completely stalled for three years.

School said he didn't pass academic evaluation, didn't renew the contract.

Long-distance separation, wife divorced him.

Didn't live there for two years in five, lost his Australian PR.

Once full of vigor, now completely demoralized.

The worst part wasn't being scammed out of money.

It was being scammed out of his life trajectory.