China's courts concluded over 159,000 first-instance cases of telecom and online fraud from 2021 to 2025, sentencing more than 338,000 defendants, according to the Supreme People's Court (SPC).
At a press conference held on Thursday, the SPC announced that future crackdowns will focus on key targets, including the chief organizers and core members of criminal gangs, financial backers of telecom fraud operations, human traffickers who orchestrate illegal border crossings, and gangs that provide armed protection for cross-border telecom fraud.
Also in the crosshairs are violent crimes committed during fraud schemes, including intentional homicide, intentional injury, and kidnapping, as well as related offenses like money laundering conducted through underground banks or virtual currencies, according to the SPC.
"We will implement a criminal policy that balances punishment with leniency so as to fracture members of criminal gangs. For low-level personnel of criminal groups who play minor roles, those who are coerced or deceived into law offending, and individuals who voluntarily surrender and return illicit gains, pay compensation, or assist in fugitive apprehension and asset recovery, lenient treatment will be applied in accordance with the law. This approach is designed to fracture and take targeted action against criminal gangs, and achieve the goals of education and redemption," said Wang Bin, head of the Third Criminal Division of the SPC.
Chinese courts conclude 159,000 telecom fraud cases in 5 years
