Shanxi police bust cybercrime ring behind porn websites, gambling, and fraud

Police in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, have dismantled a criminal gang responsible for operating a network of pornographic websites, promoting overseas gambling sites, and engaging in telecom fraud. The operation resulted in the takedown of over 50 websites and the arrest of five individuals.

The gang, led by a man surnamed Xie, a computer vocational school graduate, began its illegal activities in 2019. Xie initially launched a movie website, but soon transformed it into a platform for obscene videos called "66se," automatically downloading and uploading illicit content.

To attract viewers and generate revenue, Xie expanded his network to 53 pornographic websites under the "66se" banner. He reportedly charged advertisers between 5,000 and 9,000 yuan ($700 and $1,260) per ad, promoting gambling and adult livestreaming sites located overseas.

Xie's criminal activities extended beyond pornography. In 2022, he developed and sold custom instant messaging software for illegal purposes, generating over 200,000 yuan in profit. Later that year, he partnered with another man surnamed Yan, to launch a telecom fraud scheme targeting online users through fake shopping websites and romantic relationships.

The illegal activities came to light in December 2022 when cybersecurity police in Taiyuan discovered the "66se" website. Following a five-month investigation, authorities identified and apprehended the five gang members on April 6, 2023. All 53 pornographic websites were subsequently shut down.

Xie, Yan, and the other suspects face charges of profiting from disseminating obscene materials and fraud. Their trial date is yet to be determined.