China Jails Nine for Defrauding Over 66,000 Indians in Telecom Scam

A Chinese court has sentenced nine individuals to prison for their involvement in a large-scale online and telecom scam that targeted Indian citizens. The case, reported by Global Times, revealed that the group cheated 66,800 Indians and stole around Rs 51.7 crore (roughly $6.

2 million) using fake investment platforms and social media tricks.The mastermind of the operation, a man identified by his surname He, started the telecom scam in May 2023 by setting up an office in Heze, located in China’s Shandong Province. He recruited team members, arranged overseas servers, and coordinated with companies in India to manage money transfers.



Well-Oiled Telecom Scam Network and China’s CrackdownAccording to the Global Times report, He and his team created fake profiles on social media, pretending to be wealthy Indian women. They used chat apps to connect with Indian men and slowly gained their trust by building emotional bonds. Once the connection was strong, they introduced victims to a fake investment platform called “SENEE.

”“Through messaging, we enticed Indians with promises of 8-15% monthly returns on Rs 1,000 ($12) investments,” He had confessed. Many victims fell for the offer, thinking it was a real chance to earn money. As more and more people started investing, the group shut down the platform or claimed that the deposits were now ‘equity’ — making it impossible for investors to withdraw their money.

Another accused, surnamed Li, said she used fake photos showing luxury lifestyles and geo-tagged Indian locations to make her profile seem real. The scammers even created fake company documents — including photoshopped NBFC licenses and business permits — to make the scheme look genuine.To move the stolen money, the group used third-party payment services and converted the funds into USDT (a cryptocurrency).

They then exchanged the digital currency into Chinese yuan or US dollars, while taking a 15% cut as commission.The court described the gang as a well-organized criminal group. Each person had a clear role — from managing chat scripts and training new members to handling payments and fake paperwork.

The group operated for a little over seven months, from June 1, 2023, to January 13, 2024.Based on their roles, the court sentenced the accused to jail terms ranging from “five years to 14 years and nine months, along with fines”. The presiding judge, Liu Xilei, said China is cracking down on telecom and online fraud, especially in cases involving cross-border crimes.

He urged others involved in similar online and telecom scams to surrender voluntarily for a chance at leniency.Growing Problem of Telecom Scam in ChinaChina is facing a persistent and escalating telecom fraud crisis, with over 40,000 cases tried in courts and 78,000 individuals prosecuted in 2024 alone — a year-on-year surge of 26.7% and 53.

9%, respectively, from the previous year. This case is part of a larger pattern of telecom fraud involving Chinese nationals. In March 2025, over 2,800 Chinese suspects were repatriated from Myanmar for running scam call centres along the Myanmar-Thailand border that targeted global victims, including many from India.

And in February 2025, a Chinese court sentenced four key operatives to life imprisonment for leading cross-border fraud rackets based out of Myanmar that lured both locals and foreigners into scam operations.What the Indian Government is DoingThe Indian government has stepped up its countermeasures to tackle scammers. In January this year, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) launched the Sanchar Saathi initiative to block mobile numbers and track connections to combat telecom fraud, many of which originate outside Indian borders but exploit domestic vulnerabilities.

Using a combination of AI-driven analysis, citizen feedback, and inputs from various stakeholders, the initiative has led to the disconnection of 3.40 crore mobile numbers. The DoT has also blacklisted 3.

19 lakh mobile handsets by blocking their IMEIs, barred 20,096 bulk SMS senders, and disabled 16.97 lakh WhatsApp accounts suspected of fraudulent activity.The DoT further instructed platforms to remove content and apps enabling caller ID spoofing, a tactic often used in telecom scams like the Chinese syndicate’s.

Under the new Telecommunication Act, 2023, acquiring SIMs through fraud or tampering with telecom identifiers can result in up to three years in jail or a fine of Rs 50 lakh.Why It MattersThe rise in cross-border telecom and online scams underscores the urgent need for international cooperation in cybercrime enforcement. With over 66,000 Indians defrauded in a single case by a well-organized Chinese racket, the incident highlights how fraudsters are exploiting digital tools, emotional manipulation, and regulatory gaps across jurisdictions.

While India is strengthening its defenses through initiatives like Sanchar Saathi and legal provisions under the Telecommunication Act, the growing involvement of foreign actors in such crimes calls for stronger diplomatic and technological collaboration. The situation also serves as a wake-up call for citizens to be vigilant online, as even minor lapses in digital behaviour can lead to major financial and personal losses.Also Read:Indian Telecom Service Providers Ordered to Block Fraudulent International CallsGovernment’s Response on the Spoofed Call Prevention System Has Us Asking More QuestionsSEBI Instructs Entities To Use ‘1600’ Phone Number Series To Combat Financial FraudThe post China Jails Nine for Defrauding Over 66,000 Indians in Telecom Scam appeared first on MEDIANAMA.

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