257 nabbed in joint cross-border fraud bust

Chinese police, working with law enforcement authorities in Laos, Singapore and Cambodia, have apprehended 257 suspects linked to a cross-border fraud group accused of swindling victims out of more than 6 billion yuan ($895 million) through bogus "national projects", the Ministry of Public Security said on Tuesday.

Since July, police in Northwest China's Jilin province have arrested 101 suspects in China under the ministry's coordination, while police in Laos, Singapore and Cambodia detained another 156 suspects, the ministry said. Those arrested overseas have recently been repatriated to China in batches.

Jilin police identified the group in January while investigating a cross-border "national asset unfreezing" fraud scheme.

According to police, the group fabricated a series of purported national programs, including "elderly care action" and "livelihood protection".

The group hired technical teams to develop fraudulent mobile applications and used online platforms to attract users and recruit members, targeting elderly people over an extended period, the ministry said.

The schemes involved a large number of victims and more than 6 billion yuan in funds, according to the ministry.

Following an investigation, Jilin police identified the locations of the group's operations and the personnel involved.

On July 28, Lao police arrested 110 suspects in Vientiane as part of law enforcement cooperation with China. At the same time, Chinese police carried out coordinated operations at several locations, dismantling nine fraud sites and arresting 101 suspects.

On Aug 14, Singapore police arrested two alleged financiers behind the group, identified by their surnames Hou and Nie. Cambodian police arrested another 44 suspects linked to the group on Sept 2.

The operations resulted in the arrest of 257 suspects, covering key parts of the group's operations, including its alleged financiers, core members, technical and operational personnel, and agents, the ministry said.

Chinese police have stepped up a nationwide campaign against "national asset unfreezing" fraud this year. Since the beginning of 2026, public security authorities across the country have solved 180 cases, dismantled 75 fraud groups and arrested a number of suspects, according to the ministry.