11 jailed for telecom fraud in SW China

CHONGQING - Eleven people have received prison terms of up to eleven and half years for telecom fraud in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, a local court said Friday.

The gang cheated over 2.28 million yuan ($330,220) out of more than 2,000 people. The criminals were fined of up to 100,000 yuan each, according to the court of Fengjie county.

Investigation shows the defendants set up two companies which illegally issued fake bank cards. They cheated the victims through phone calls saying that the cards could be used to apply for loans, withdraw deposit and shop online, and asked for "service and activation fees" from the victims.

The gang had recruited over 50 agents around the country when the crime was unveiled.