China closes fake anti-corruption websites

China has closed at least 89 websites since March that allegedly falsely described themselves as anti-corruption portals.

The websites, with names such as "corruption prevention website of China" and "Corruption investigation and prevention research center of China," were closed by the State Internet Information Office for blackmail activities, the Beijing News reported July 10.

The office, established in May 2011, works with authorities to improve content management on the Internet and investigate and punish illegal websites.

The office said 47 such websites have been shut down in June alone, Beijing News reported.

The illicit websites impersonate government agencies or nongovernmental organizations, an official from the office said.

They claim to be official websites run by China's top disciplinary and judicial departments such as the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the State Internet Information Office, or the Ministry of Justice.

Some websites said they have connections with China's senior leaders or retired leaders and display fabricated photos, the official said.

And most of the websites demand "sponsorships,", "advertisement fees" or "membership fees" from companies, government agencies or individuals by threatening to publish negative news regarding the latter or allegedly for "fighting, monitoring corruption" or "safeguarding rights," the report said.

"Such practices become more common," the report said.

In September, an official from a township in Huazhou city of South China's Guangdong province found postings on an online forum of the city that falsely accused him of adultery.

He asked the forum's website administrator, Wang Zhiquan, to delete the content, but the official was asked to pay 5,000 yuan ($785) to delete it.

One month later, the official found rumors about him on the forum had re-emerged, and paid Wang another 2,000 yuan to delete the message before reporting the case to police.

On Dec 13, police detained Wang in a rented shabby house in Shenzhen of the province, where Wang used four computers to perform the blackmail for two years.

Police arrested Wang on suspicion of registering many online identity accounts to post rumors and then demanding fees to delete them.

Wang allegedly has gained about 100,000 yuan in 10 blackmail cases.

In May 2008, police in Hangtang county also detained several men who claimed working for the "China Legal Website." They accused officials of land and resources bureau of the county of malpractice and asked the bureau to pay to subscribe to the website's information publication.