China has stepped up its efforts against telecom and online fraud, solving over 1.73 million cases during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), according to an official of the Ministry of Public Security at a press conference Wednesday.

On July 23, 2025, the State Council Information Office holds a press conference in Beijing on ensuring high-level security as safeguard for the high-quality completion of the 14th Five-Year Plan. [Photo by Zhang Xin/China SCIO]

"Telecom fraud has become a global scourge. It spreads fast, affects wide groups, and is a major public concern," said Jiang Guoli, political commissar of the ministry's criminal investigation bureau.

Jiang said police operations have targeted criminal networks supporting overseas scam groups, including those offering money laundering, tech support, and illegal border crossings. A total of 366,000 suspects have been arrested, including over 3,400 ringleaders.

Jiang Guoli, political commissar of the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, attends a press conference in Beijing, July 23, 2025. [Photo by Xu Xiang/China SCIO]

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Chinese authorities have also worked with telecom regulators to block over 12.4 billion scam calls, nearly 11 billion fake texts, and more than 25 million malicious websites, Jiang said.

To stop scams before they happen, the National Anti-Fraud Center has issued more than 20 million early warnings, and public security organs nationwide have conducted over 28 million face-to-face interventions.

Jiang also highlighted China's growing international cooperation in tackling cross-border fraud. Working through bilateral and multilateral channels, Chinese police have partnered with counterparts in countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia. Joint actions have led to the dismantling of more than 2,000 overseas scam dens and the arrest of over 80,000 suspects. "These operations have dealt a strong blow to the rise in cross-border telecom fraud," Jiang said.

Despite the progress, Jiang acknowledged that the situation remains complex. "As our crackdown intensifies at home, many fraud operations have moved abroad," he noted.

Jiang warned the public to be wary of "high-paying overseas job offers," saying these are often fronts for scam rings. "People must stay vigilant and enhance their awareness to avoid falling into such traps," he said.