From mining machines to suspicious investment promotions? Chester Car shooting survivor embroiled in a scam controversy

Taiwanese car YouTuber Chester Car recently faced backlash from netizens after recommending an investment plan on social media with a “2% monthly interest, 24% annualized” return, raising suspicions of a Ponzi scheme. This influencer, with over 100,000 subscribers, has a complicated past; he was the sole survivor of the 2017 Zhongli shooting incident and claims to have earned 6 to 7 million TWD through cryptocurrency trading and mining investments. However, he has now become embroiled in controversy for promoting a suspected scam investment scheme.

Who is Chester Car? From Survivor to Investor

Chester Car’s real name is Yang Zhenglun. He primarily runs a car-related channel known for new car unboxings, test drives, and automotive knowledge. But his life story is far more complex than that of an average YouTuber. In 2017, Yang Zhenglun was involved in a shooting incident at an underground sports betting company in Zhongli, becoming the only person to survive. According to reports at the time, the shooter killed two men and one woman before committing suicide. Police speculated that the incident was related to sports betting and gambling disputes.

Yang Zhenglun stated that he was there only to chat with the deceased, Yin Shou-teng. Investigations revealed that Yang and Yin co-managed several sports betting data websites, with members including prominent business and political figures. It was ultimately inferred that the victim’s possibly strong background may have angered the shooter. Due to this past, Chester Car has long been suspected by netizens of involvement in scams and illegal betting. He also announced in April this year that he had reported the matter to authorities and filed defamation lawsuits.

From Being Scammed to Claiming to Make Big Money: Cryptocurrency Investment Journey

In an interview in 2023, Chester Car shared his investment experience. He said that when he first encountered cryptocurrencies in 2016, he lost hundreds of thousands of TWD because he fell for a Ponzi scheme, joking that he was the “last to get off the train.” Afterward, he studied scam tactics and cryptocurrency mechanisms in depth, shifted to long-term investments in mainstream coins, and in 2017 entered the mining industry, claiming to have earned 6 to 7 million TWD from it. He also invested in Ethereum(ETH) and reaped substantial gains.

Suspected Ponzi Scheme Emerges, Legal Risks Surface

Yesterday, a netizen shared a screenshot of Chester Car’s IG story on Threads, recommending an investment plan: “2% per month, 24% per year, fixed monthly dividends, principal protected, can be withdrawn at any time, minimum investment of 500,000.” Although the post claimed that the investment target was rare collectibles trading and emphasized it was not a scam, it sparked widespread skepticism. Many netizens commented, “This is obviously a Ponzi scheme.”

Whether this violates the law has become a focal point. According to Article 29-1 of the Banking Act, those who borrow, accept investments, or receive funds from many or unspecified persons under other names, and pay returns that are not proportionate to the principal, are considered to be accepting deposits. Yongran Law Firm pointed out that only legally registered banks can operate such businesses. Violators face 3 to 10 years in prison, and if the criminal proceeds exceed 100 million TWD, the penalty is over 7 years.

No Police Action Yet, How Can the Public Protect Themselves

Currently, no “victims” have come forward publicly, and the police have not taken action against Chester Car, making it difficult to objectively determine whether it is a scam. However, if the public encounters similar suspicious messages, they can report via the “Internet Fraud Reporting and Inquiry” app provided by the Cyber Division. The government will investigate and verify the authenticity.

Chester Car’s life trajectory—from survivor of a shooting incident, cryptocurrency investor, to automotive influencer—is full of twists and turns. Now, he is embroiled in controversy for promoting a suspicious investment scheme. This case also serves as a reminder for investors to be cautious of the risks behind promises of high returns.