As of December 17, Guangdong police have resolved 419 telecom fraud cases and busted 128 gangs, according to a statement recently released by Guangdong Provincial Department of Public Security. Administrative penalties were imposed on 633 fraudsters and criminal punishments on 586 criminals.
Guangdong police continue to make progress in anti-scam efforts after the launch of the Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law in September this year. The law clarifies duties of relevant parties and targets telecom and online fraud, in a bid to strengthen the battle against scammers and related criminals.
Shaoguan issued first ticket of administrative penalty
On December 1, Shaoguan police raided the residence of a suspect surnamed Huang who helped to set up VOIP telecom fraud sites and offered payment transfer services. Several tools were seized on site. Yet what he has done constituted no crime. A fine of 12,000 RMB was imposed on Huang, whose illegal income of 6,000 RMB was confiscated according to the law.
This case marks the first administrative penalty decision made on the basis of the new law in Guangdong province.
A suspect with the tools for telecom fraud seized by Shaoguan police. (Photo provide to GDToday)
Telecom fraud syndicates cracked in Meizhou
On December 5, Meizhou police busted 11 telecom fraud gangs and 2 scamming syndicates providing GOIP calling services. The police arrested 9 suspects and seized 11 voice gateways, 3 wireless routers and 1 car on site.
A suspect with the tools for telecom fraud seized by Meizhou police. (Photo provide to GDToday)
Suspects fined 20,000 RMB in Zhanjiang
On December 2, Zhanjiang police smashed a syndicate which was involved in telecom fraud through fixed-line telephones. Three suspects were arrested.
Since the syndicate operated for only one day with no income, the arrested suspects received no criminal punishment. Yet, according to the law, the gang’s leader was fined 20,000 RMB.
The police remind the public of raising awareness of laws and rejecting participation in or help with telecom and online fraud.
A suspect arrested by Zhanjiang police. (Photo provide to GDToday)
Accessories providing bank cards arrested in Zhongshan
In an operation launched on December 7, Zhongshan police arrested 2 suspects who assisted in telecom fraud by providing bank cards.
According to the police, one suspect surnamed Zhou offered his own bank card to telecom fraud gangs for money transfer. Another suspect surnamed Zhu earned 4,000 RMB by committing the same illegal act.
As a result, Zhou and Zhu were respectively fined 1,000 RMB and 4,000 RMB and were sentenced to 10-day and 14-day administrative detention respectively. All of their illegal income was confiscated according to Article 38 of the Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law.
According to the police, ordinary people may become accessories to telecom fraud through lending, renting or selling their SIM cards and bank cards. Guangdong police remind the public of taking care of their SIM and bank cards, and reporting to police if they find anyone selling or buying the cards.
Author | Riz (intern), Lydia Liu
Editor | Wing, Steven, Jerry
