Beijing's anti-fraud measures lead to over 50% reduction in telecom fraud cases

Telecom fraud cases and the associated financial losses in Beijing have both decreased by over 50 percent year-on-year, thanks to the city's intensified efforts to combat this crime, according to municipal police.

The Beijing Public Security Bureau has implemented a comprehensive anti-fraud system that proactively addresses risks before they occur, intervenes in real time, and follows up afterward by using risk screening, graded responses, and precise dissuasion to protect the financial well-being of the capital's residents.

Li Xiaoyan, an official from the bureau's criminal investigation department, stated on Wednesday, "We're closely monitoring new trends and tactics in telecom fraud, pooling resources across various police units, and conducting multidimensional analyses to ensure thorough investigations and comprehensive crackdowns." Li also noted that the city's anti-fraud measures are now among the most effective in the country.

She said that Beijing police have ramped up efforts to cut off the supply of illicit phone and bank cards and disrupt the trafficking of fraud operatives and their illicit funds, dismantling 170 criminal dens and rings since the start of this year.

In response to the trend of illicit fund transfers moving offline, the city's police have also launched targeted operations against physical cash and gold transports. So far, more than 460 suspects have been detained, 73 cash-transporting vehicle groups dismantled, and over 62 million yuan ($9.2 million) in cash and 19.51 kilograms of gold intercepted, effectively cutting off channels used to launder fraud proceeds, she added.

Wang Gang, deputy head of the telecom fraud control team under the bureau, explained that a special task force has been set up to monitor cases daily and analyze major fraud types, including fake investment platforms, rebate scams, sham shopping services, impersonation scams, and bogus official inquiries. This analysis focuses on identifying unusual patterns in victim recruitment, communication, and fund transfers.

As a result, the volume and accuracy of early warning alerts have improved significantly this year, providing better protection against public losses, Wang said.

According to him, alerts are categorized into four levels — emergency, high, medium, and low — based on the type and content of information. Responses include SMS notifications, alerts via the national anti-fraud hotline 96110, automated voice calls, and in-person visits by officers. More than 4 billion yuan in potential losses has been averted so far this year.

"For example, in March, police in Fengtai district received an alert about a resident falling for a fake investment scam. Despite initial resistance, officers were able to convince the victim of the scam's tactics, preventing a potential loss of 7 million yuan," he recalled.

To ensure swift and effective responses to alerts, the anti-fraud team has also coordinated with local police stations, subdistrict offices, and community volunteers to form specialized intervention teams, he said, adding that regular training sessions equip members with the necessary skills, creating a three-tier intervention system at the municipal, district, and police station levels.

"We are leveraging technology to speed up alert delivery, racing against fraudsters to gain the upper hand in intervention," Wang said. In another case in August, the anti-fraud team quickly intervened to prevent a resident from losing 500,000 yuan in cash, demonstrating the effectiveness of their rapid response efforts.