Hubei police seize 15 pyramid scheme members

WUHAN -?Fifteen members of Shanxinhui, a Shenzhen-based company suspected of organizing and leading a pyramid scheme, have been seized in central China's Hubei Province, police said Monday.

Of the 15, 13 have been placed in criminal detention, Hubei police said in a statement.

On Sunday, Guangdong police detained 230 members of Shanxinhui. Beijing police also arrested 63 after members of the pyramid scheme gathered in the capital city on July 24.

Police have previously investigated Shanxinhui for allegedly manipulating people into taking part in pyramid selling and cheating them out of huge amounts of property under the guise of helping the poor.

Zhang Tianming, legal representative of the company, and other suspects have been put under coercive measures, which may include summons by force, bail, residential surveillance, detention or arrest.