Two groups in Tianjin have been busted by the police for illegally buying social media accounts and mobile phone cards to resell to overseas fraud groups. The involved money exceeded 10 million yuan ($1.46 million), according to the Ministry of Public Security.
The police’s investigation began by finding a man who was engaging in the illegal trade via online platforms. Based on the clues provided by the man, the police were able to bust an online platform for trading such illegal accounts. They also found two groups that were engaging in the illegal accounts business and arrested 13 suspects. The police confiscated more than 120 mobile phones and seized more than 200,000 illegal online accounts and 50,000 illegal mobile phone numbers.
The incidence of cybercrimes such as telecom and online fraud, cross-border online gambling, and online ghostwriting has increased in recent years, resulting in a network of relevant illegal activities. These activities seriously harm cyberspace management order and damage the legitimate rights and interests of the public, according to the ministry.
In September, the ministry launched an operation to cut off criminal networks and crack down on activities such as the malicious registration of network accounts, selling, renting, and lending the accounts of network platforms, illegal manufacturing, selling, and providing illegal telecom equipment, and related software development and sales personnel.
The police have investigated approximately 11,000 cases nationwide, closed 130 code-receiving platforms and about 10,000 call-receiving devices, seized 2.4 million illegal telecom phone cards and shut down 42 million illegal internet accounts involved in such crimes.
The public security organs have also strengthened industry regulation, urged internet enterprises to fulfill their responsibilities, and take the initiative to identify and dispose of malicious registration, illegal sales, and use of online accounts. The police have also organized internet enterprises to carry out reverification of suspected online accounts and investigate enterprises involved in business and management loopholes, according to the ministry.
An official from the ministry said public security organs will maintain a high-handed posture toward online crimes, further intensify the crackdown, focus on key links of such illegal activities, and take targeted and effective measures to curb them. The ministry will also work closely with relevant departments to continuously strengthen industry regulation and control the illegal activities at the source to create a safe and orderly cyberspace.