Telecoms call for AI help in fraud fight

Programs can spot crimes as they happen, before citizens are duped

Chinese telecom companies are ratcheting up resources to fight against telecom frauds, by leveraging cutting-edge technologies and strengthening cooperation with internet companies, public security bureaus, as well as banks.

The intensified push comes as new types of fraud cases emerge with instant-messaging apps and illegal telecom technology increasingly being used to swindle citizens. In 2017, there were more than 596,000 cases of telecom and internet fraud in China, causing economic losses of 13.1 billion yuan ($1.9 billion), according to data from the Ministry of Public Security.