Public security organs have seen major success in combating telecom and online fraud

Public security organs nationwide resolved nearly 1.95 million cases of telecom and online fraud over the past five years, and the number of such cases filed nationwide has decreased year-on-year for eight consecutive months, effectively curbing the rise in telecom and online fraud crimes, Li Guozhong, a spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security, said on Monday.

Li said that significant progress has been made in the special campaign against crimes in northern Myanmar affecting China since July 2023. Over 49,000 telecom fraud suspects have been handed over to the Chinese authorities as well as the notorious "Four Major Families" of telecom fraud syndicates in Kokang region of northern Myanmar, which have been dealt a devastating blow.

Facing the evolving tactics of telecom fraud, the hiding of fraud dens abroad and other challenges, public security organs nationwide have coordinated efforts in combating, preventing, managing and controlling telecom fraud and relevant crimes, as well as publicizing anti-fraud measures, he said.

The ministry has continuously launched special operations, targeting overseas fraud groups and domestic networks involved in illegal activities regarding telecom fraud, such as fraud promotion, money laundering, technical development and organizing illegal immigration. A total of 82,000 suspects have been apprehended, including 426 key financiers behind fraud groups.

Besides, the ministry leveraged international law enforcement cooperation mechanisms, dispatched multiple working groups to relevant Southeast Asian countries, dismantling 37 overseas fraud dens. Simultaneously, the ministry has actively collaborated with relevant domestic departments to promote comprehensive governance and strengthen industry regulation, squeezing the space for fraud-related illegal activities, he said.

The ministry has also advanced efforts in early warning, dissuasion and technical countermeasures. Since 2021, the National Anti-Fraud Center has issued 660 million anti-fraud directives, police officers have conducted face-to-face dissuasion with 18.44 million potential victims.

The public security organs, in cooperation with relevant departments, intercepted 6.99 billion scam calls and 6.84 billion scam messages, dealt with 18 million involved domain names and websites, and urgently blocked 1.1 trillion yuan ($151.9 billion) in fraudulent funds.