CBA Stars Expose Investment Scams

It is reported that Guo Ailun and his family have allegedly been involved in a major fraud case involving an acquaintance, with the amount approaching 10 million RMB. His family has already reported the case to the police. According to informed sources, the suspect is a close friend of Guo, who lured him into transferring nearly 10 million RMB under the pretext of an “investment partnership.” After the transfer, the suspect became unreachable, and the whereabouts of the funds remain unknown.

Earlier this year, Zhou Qi and Zhai Xiaochuan shared their experiences in a podcast interview, discussing financial losses and fraud in player investments. Within China’s professional basketball circle, Guo’s situation is far from unique.

“Investment failure—honestly, I’d say about 80% of basketball players have experienced it. No matter the amount, even losing 10,000 or 20,000 yuan counts. Most have taken some kind of hit. I think many players dream of being their own boss and starting something. But very few actually make money from their own investments. I’ve invested quite a lot myself, and very few projects have been profitable. More often than not, people are trying to scam you. I want to warn current players and younger ones: once you make money, you should save it,” said Zhai Xiaochuan.

Zhou Qi added that the nature of a basketball career makes players especially vulnerable. “Basketball is a short career, and during our youth, most of our time is spent training. To put it bluntly, we lack education and social experience. That makes us prone to losses in investment because we don’t fully understand these matters. Only after suffering losses do you learn what not to do.”

“In today’s environment, everyone talks about making money from money and not putting all your eggs in one basket. For players who have long lived in a relatively closed environment, once they earn money, beyond enjoying life, they naturally want to invest. They hope that besides earning through playing, their money can generate more money. That’s exactly what gives opportunists a chance.”

“A player, even with a smooth career, might only play until 35—about a 15-year career. Basketball isn’t a profession you can rely on into your 60s or 70s, so you have to think about the future.” Zhou Qi revealed that, from what he knows, some players have suffered losses amounting to several million RMB.