A group of scammers in Jixi county, Anhui Province is making off with bundles of cash by signing for loans with disappearing ink pens, media reported Monday.

Police explain the pens contain a special ink that fades without a trace between 15 minutes and 48 hours, depending on the paper, handwriting speed and pressure used. 

The con involves signing for loans, waiting for the ink to disappear and then denying the money was ever borrowed.

Vanishing ink pens are readily available at most stationery stores. They are intended to help primary school students study penmanship.

"We used to sell this pen to children to practice drawing and writing. But we've stopped due to poor sales," said the owner of a stationery store in Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province.

Local police warn that printed e-contracts should be used for loan transactions and advise to always insist on using your own pen.

Jianghuai Daily