Nation ups ante against telecom fraud

In this high-stakes cross-border and digital campaign, Chinese authorities cracked 258,000 telecom and online fraud cases last year. In the meantime, a total of 57,000 telecom fraud suspects were repatriated to China.

The authorities also intercepted 3.6 billion fraudulent calls, blocked 3.3 billion scam messages, and froze 217.07 billion yuan ($31.3 billion) in emergency funds. This landmark achievement showcases a multipronged strategy that has become a global model for combating transnational fraud.

The MPS acknowledged that the fraud situation remained severe and complex as early as January 2025. Its spokesperson Zhang Ming stated that such cases remained high-frequency, with telecom and internet fraud a standout major crime featuring high incidence, heavy losses, severe harm, and strong public concern.

These crimes exhibit distinct transnational and organized traits, with fraud groups operating in a highly systematic manner. The leaders and core members instruct domestic personnel to engage in various illegal and criminal activities such as app development, data traffic attraction and promotion, fund transfer and money laundering, she said.

Zhang added that fraudsters closely track social trends and personal preferences, tailoring scams to targets of all ages, professions, and educational backgrounds. While the telecom fraud problem in northern Myanmar has improved significantly, many overseas "tech parks" and "development zones" still serve as dens for such activities.

Besides, fraud groups are also leveraging cutting-edge technologies like blockchain, virtual currencies, and artificial intelligence to upgrade their criminal tools continuously.

To address these challenges, public security authorities have intensified comprehensive international law enforcement cooperation, resolutely dismantling overseas fraud hubs and pursuing key suspects.

In January 2025, the MPS dispatched a delegation to Thailand and Myanmar for talks with local law enforcement, establishing a joint mechanism to combat telecom fraud, human trafficking, and other transnational crimes, laying the groundwork for multilateral cooperation.

Soon, China, Myanmar, and Thailand held a ministerial meeting in Bangkok on Feb 28, agreeing to strengthen joint anti-fraud efforts. From February 20 to mid-March, 2,876 fraud suspects were repatriated from Myanmar via Thailand.

Chinese authorities also enhanced intelligence sharing with Myanmar, helping locate new fraud hubs. Between March 24 and late April, Myanmar launched multiple operations, arresting over 920 Chinese fraud suspects who were subsequently repatriated to China. In July, a second ministerial meeting in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, further deepened law enforcement cooperation, focusing on anti-fraud efforts in regions like Myawaddy.

The MPS also accelerated the establishment of a global anti-telecom fraud alliance at the 2025 Global Public Security Cooperation Forum in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, in September, forging partnerships with law enforcement agencies from 28 countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa. The alliance aims to standardize information sharing, streamline extradition procedures, and coordinate joint operations against transnational fraud networks.

Through a series of special operations, authorities apprehended 542 kingpins, financiers, and key operatives, including She Zhijiang (also known as Tang Kriang Kai), a Chinese-Cambodian ringleader of a cross-border gambling and fraud syndicate in Myanmar. His criminal empire operated over 200 online platforms and 248 fraud outfits in Myawaddy.

With the cross-border crackdown evolving, China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam held a meeting in Kunming, Yunnan province, in November last year, signing an agreement to enhance cooperation, with a focus on information sharing, suspect repatriation and the setting up of a regular enforcement mechanism.

On Dec 15, a joint China-Myanmar-Thailand task force inspected anti-fraud efforts in Myawaddy. Subsequent operations led to the repatriation of 952 Chinese suspects and the dismantling of buildings in key fraud hubs, including KK Park and Asia Pacific New City.

In late December, public security organs issued a public warrant for 100 at-large "financial backers" and key members of telecom and internet fraud rings, reaffirming China's resolve to severely crack down on such crimes.

Bilateral cooperation has also expanded beyond Southeast Asia. MPS data shows that in recent years, China has collaborated with Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries to repatriate thousands of telecom fraud suspects.