Fraudsters ramp up scams targeting minors

Public security authorities are warning parents and minors to stay alert for telecom fraud targeting children as scammers exploit their interest in games, celebrities and online giveaways, and in some cases pose as police officers to frighten them into transferring money.

Police in several regions said cases involving minors spiked during the summer holiday, when children spend more time online but often lack the experience to recognize scams. Fraudsters typically approach them with promises of free gifts, discounts or offers of easy money through social media, gaming platforms or messaging apps before pressuring them to make payments, according to officials.

In one case, a middle school student was invited into a group offering paid "task" work. More than a dozen supposed participants posted screenshots of earnings, prompting him to transfer several thousand yuan. When he tried to withdraw the money, "customer service" said his account had been frozen and demanded further payments. He later discovered that everyone else in the group had been colluding with the scammers.

Other cases have involved more direct intimidation. In Fujian province, a fourth-grade student received a video call from a man claiming to be a police officer. The caller was dressed in uniform and displayed what appeared to be police identification and accused the child of defrauding someone.

The boy was warned that his parents could face criminal consequences if he disclosed the "investigation". Frightened, he waited until his family was asleep and transferred more than 3,000 yuan ($446). His parents discovered the loss the next day.

Similar cases have been reported elsewhere.

In Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, a middle school student who clicked on a lottery link was told he had caused a company account to be frozen and was instructed to use a parent's phone to provide funds to "unfreeze" it.

In Suining, Sichuan province, a student who added what appeared to be a celebrity's QQ account was accused of leaking personal information and lost more than 74,000 yuan while supposedly "cooperating with an investigation".

Cao Qinzhong, deputy head of a new-crime investigation brigade with the Fuzhou public security bureau in Fujian, said common scams targeting minors include fraudulent game-item transactions, fake part-time jobs offering rebates, bogus shopping services and impersonation of police, prosecutors or judges.

Primary school students account for the largest share of victims, followed by middle school students, he said. Most losses range from several hundred to several thousand yuan.

China's National Anti-Fraud Center said in its 2026 telecom and online fraud white paper that fraudulent game-product transactions and scams impersonating law-enforcement authorities are among the most common schemes targeting minors.

Police said the tactics have become increasingly elaborate. Some fraud groups hire people to pose as officers, create fake police-office backdrops and fabricate arrest warrants or legal documents. Victims are often told not to speak to their parents and then instructed to download meeting apps, enable screen sharing or operate a parent's cellphone under remote guidance.

Police said fear and secrecy are central to the scams, urging parents to restrict payment functions on children's devices, disable password-free payments and set spending limits. Minors are also advised not to scan unfamiliar QR codes, download unknown apps, share screens or hide suspicious requests from their parents.

Once threatened or asked to transfer money, children should tell their parents immediately rather than try to handle the situation alone, police said.

yangzekun@chinadaily.com.cn