8,700 detained for online crime

BEIJING - Police have busted more than 210 gangs and detained 8,700 people after they were found to have been involved in online crime, according to a Tuesday statement from the Ministry of Public Security.

More than 4,100 Internet-related fraud cases have been solved and 150million yuan ($24.50 million) in economic losses has been recovered since the ministry launched a campaign to clean up the Internet in June, according to the statement.

From July 25 to 27, police from 13 provincial- and municipal-level regions broke up 42 gangs and arrested 140 people who are allegedly involved in online video fraud in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to the ministry.

The suspects allegedly stole contact information used to log into QQ, a popular instant messaging program, and record fake video chats that they used to defraud their victims' relatives and friends, according to the statement.

Several vehicles, computers and mobile phones used to commit the crimes were seized by police, according to the ministry.