To be free, ransom must be paid first. Dream of gold rush shattered, and Shanghai police arrested more than 420 overseas wire fraud "returnees"

The vast majority of personnel in telecom network fraud dens work more than 12 hours a day, not only unable to earn money, but also required to pay high ransoms. This is the true experience of those engaged in illegal and criminal activities in overseas telecom network fraud dens.

The reporter learned from the Shanghai police today that more than 420 individuals from various overseas telecommunications network fraud dens have been arrested since the beginning of this year, including 28 responsible persons of relevant fraud dens and 42 "business leaders".

After seeking warmth and comfort, he began to set up a scheme to deceive

In 2022, Ms. Li, a resident of Shanghai, met Mr. Liu online. The other person not only had a successful career, but also showed great concern and concern for Ms. Li during the conversation. Not long after, Mr. Liu claimed to have insider information and bought a fund package without any loss. Under his guidance, Ms. Li downloaded a wealth management app and gradually invested more than 330000 yuan. However, when Ms. Li tried to withdraw funds, she found that the funds could not be transferred out, and she was also blacklisted by Mr. Liu.

After receiving a report from Ms. Li, the Yangpu police established a special task force to start with the flow of funds and quickly identified and arrested Ma, the "Kanong" involved in the case. Afterwards, the task force followed suit and discovered a telecommunications network fraud hideout hidden in a country in Southeast Asia.

According to the investigating police, the gang operates in a "corporate" mode, consisting of a business team, a finance team, a technical team, and a logistics team, with hundreds of members. They posted false high paying job recruitment information on social media platforms and recruited domestic personnel to carry out telecommunications network fraud overseas. Gang members chat with victims on social media based on established fraudulent language and false personas to cultivate "emotions". After gaining their trust, they falsely claim to have "insider information" and deceive victims into investing and recharging on fraudulent platforms.

After nearly a year of investigation and investigation, in June this year, the task force discovered that the member of the gang, Wang, had returned to China and immediately arrested him. "Wang is a key member of the gang, responsible for the daily management of fraud dens," the investigating agency explained.

The suspect is interrogated by the police

These "returning" personnel are spread across multiple parts of the country, with complex relationships and close contacts, and possess a certain level of anti investigation awareness. In August of this year, the Yangpu Public Security Department dispatched more than 300 police officers to more than 50 cities in 17 provinces across the country, including Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guangdong, to carry out centralized network collection operations. With the assistance of the local public security organ, 100 suspect of telecom network fraud were successively arrested and 130 mobile phones involved were seized on the spot.

After interrogation, it was found that most of the suspects actively went abroad to participate in telecommunications network fraud activities, and some individuals were tempted by the "monthly income of 100000 yuan" and fell into overseas fraud dens. At present, all suspect have been escorted back to Shanghai, including 26 people who have been arrested, 66 people who have been held in criminal detention, and 8 people who have been released on bail. The case is under further trial.

More than 420 returnees from overseas fraud dens have been arrested

The Shanghai police investigation found that some members of telecommunications network fraud dens use geographical and blood ties as a link, gather fellow villagers or friends, and actively go abroad to participate in telecommunications network fraud criminal activities. In addition, some individuals have been deceived by so-called "high paying jobs", carrying a "gold rush dream" to overseas fraud dens, and are violently controlled by overseas criminal groups, forcing them to participate in telecommunications network fraud activities.

In recent years, cross-border telecommunications network fraud cases have gradually shown organized and specialized characteristics, forming a complete industrial chain. The police have learned that the vast majority of members in overseas fraud dens are mainly responsible for diverting virtual identity information through packaging, communicating with victims according to given scripts and scripts, and carrying out fraud. However, due to low profits and high levels of consumption within the fraudulent park, not only are profits not earned, but some even have their personal freedom restricted. After the dream of "gold rush" shattered, some members of the dens were ultimately forced to pay high ransom in exchange for the freedom to return to their home country.

In addition, overseas telecommunications network fraud dens often have professional technical teams and money laundering teams, which use false identities, encryption technologies, etc. to make their criminal activities more covert. At the same time, various types of network black and gray industrial chains are becoming increasingly developed, providing illegal services such as drainage and promotion, illegal communication devices, money laundering, payment settlement, etc. for telecommunications network fraud groups, constantly upgrading communication technologies, finding ways to conceal characteristic information, hiding identities, and evading attacks.

In response, the Shanghai police have implemented mechanisms such as starting with current cases, sorting out old cases, multi-dimensional expansion, and centralized collection, combined with information on overseas criminal dens and their personnel composition, to develop arrest plans for individuals who have identified their true identities as "returning" illegal criminals. At the same time, the police also use various means to identify key evidence of fraudulent individuals returning from overseas. For those who have already been arrested, the police continue to investigate and expand criminal gangs and their affiliated personnel.

Since the beginning of this year, the Shanghai police have carried out multiple batches of centralized network collection operations, arresting and bringing to justice more than 420 individuals who returned from overseas wire fraud dens across the country.

Overseas fraud dens' returnees' arrested by Shanghai police