On March 13th, news broke out about individuals engaging in telecom fraud despite the implementation of real-name registration for phone cards. Why would they still attempt such scams when each card is supposedly traceable?
Well, here's the catch: the scammers aren't using their own cards; they're operating under the identities of unsuspecting individuals. These individuals have no clue that their personal information has been used to register phone cards for fraudulent activities.
Recently, the Cybersecurity Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security disclosed a typical case: the police in Shanxi Province uncovered 8 insiders within telecom companies who were aiding in the issuance of phone cards.
According to reports, these 8 individuals held managerial positions and were recruited by the fraudsters. They would deceive the public into obtaining phone cards through methods such as "rural outreach services" or "free giveaways of daily necessities," concealing the true nature of the transactions.
Given that the entire operation was conducted under the guise of telecom service providers, many villagers let their guard down. This was especially true for elderly villagers who, unaware of the situation, would obtain phone cards and leave them in the hands of the service personnel.
The fraudsters would then use these phone numbers to make calls, register WeChat accounts, join video conference rooms, and engage in various other fraudulent activities, resulting in 13 reported cases of fraud across the country.
During the raid on their hideout, the police seized 24 pieces of relevant equipment, 5 encryption devices, 303 phone cards, and 5 computers. Through judicial electronic authentication, it was revealed that the "catfish" device contained as many as 5767 phone cards.
Currently, all suspects have been lawfully detained, and the case is still under further investigation.
The cyber police issue a reminder: illegal acquisition, sale, or resale of phone cards or bank cards, especially with severe circumstances, constitutes a criminal offense and will be prosecuted accordingly.
Phone cards and bank cards are both subject to real-name registration and are intended for personal use only. Selling one's own phone or bank card to others not only poses significant risks but also provides criminals with tools for telecom fraud. Those involved in cases of telecom fraud related to such cards may face criminal charges for "assisting in fraud."
