NPC to consider harsher punishment for fraudsters

Individuals and departments involved in telecom and online fraud will face stronger punishment, Yang Heqing, spokesman for National People's Congress Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, told a news conference on Thursday.

Yang said that harsher penalties have been written into the latest draft version of an anti-telecom and online fraud law, which will be submitted during a session of the Standing Committee of the NPC, China's top legislature, for second review next week.

Meting out heavier punishment will make the country's efforts to fight fraud more effective, he added.

In the previous version, which was reviewed by the NPC Standing Committee last year, telecommunication, finance and cyberspace service providers were required to improve real-name registration and account management to prevent telecom and online fraud.

According to that version, those who violated the rules would receive warnings, be criticized in a public notice or fined between 10,000 yuan ($1,492) and 100,000 yuan. It added that in serious situations, violators could be fined up to 1 million yuan or be shutdown.

When the old version was discussed among legislators and opened to public opinion, many people said the penalties should be stronger.

The new version of the draft law will also call for more efforts to help the public avoid fraud by raising awareness of the crime, Yang said, adding that efforts to combat fraud originating from overseas will also be intensified.

Furthermore, several other draft laws or draft amendments, including those targeting monopolies, Yellow River protection and black soil conservation, are also expected to be reviewed during the new legislative session, which will be held in Beijing from June 21 to 24.